Citilink (QG, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta) has taken delivery of its first widebody aircraft, an A330-900, Flightradar24 ADS-B data indicates.
PK-GYC (msn 1887) was ferried from Toulouse Blagnac directly to Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta over the course of December 3-4, 2019. The aircraft is dry-leased from Avolon and was originally destined for WOW air (Reykjavik Keflavik) but never taken up due to the Icelandic carrier's bankruptcy. It will be repainted at Jakarta airport before the entry into service.
The ultra-low-cost-carrier is expecting another A330-900, msn 1870, shortly.
The airline has yet to file schedules for the A330-900.
To date, Citilink's fleet included narrowbody jets (forty-two A320-200s and nine A320-200neo) and turboprops (five ATR72-600s). The airline also operates a single B737-500 for cargo operations marketed by Merpati (Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta).
Meanwhile, parent airline Garuda Indonesia (GA, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta) has been embroiled in a scandal related to the smuggling of a disassembled Harley-Davidson motorcycle and Brompton folding bicycles onboard a second A330-900 for the airline delivered simultaneously with Citilink's unit. Upon the arrival of PK-GHF (msn 1948) in Jakarta on December 4, customs officers discovered and seized high-value undeclared goods, despite the fact that there were no passengers on board the aircraft.
Following the discovery of the goods, Indonesian Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir said he will fire Chief Executive Ari Askhara and any other staff members linked to the smuggling.
Erick said at a press conference that the ministry discovered documents proving that the Harley-Davidson motorcycle was being paid by and transported for Ari Ashkara himself.
"This case has saddened me. While I’m working to raise the country’s image, some people within State-Owned Enterprises seem not to be ready," Erick said, as quoted by The Jakarta Post.
