The Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) has officially expressed support for Danantara Indonesia's initiative, which is currently studying the establishment of an aircraft leasing company or lessor. This strategic step is projected to significantly reduce fleet rental costs while enhancing the bargaining power of national airlines facing international aircraft manufacturers.
Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi explained that acting directly as a lessor grants the government the advantage of entering direct agreements with manufacturers. According to him, this position not only ensures the timely delivery of aircraft units but also builds confidence among manufacturers regarding payment certainty, making offered prices far more competitive.
Echoing this sentiment, Head of BP BUMN and COO of Danantara, Dony Oskaria, revealed that this plan is part of business options within the framework of procuring 50 Boeing aircraft units for Garuda Indonesia. His party is currently finalizing a comprehensive study to ensure the business model provides maximum added value for domestic airline efficiency.
Independent aviation analyst Gatot Rahardo highlighted the potential for significant savings that airlines could enjoy if leasing is conducted through a domestic entity. One of the main advantages is the potential use of the rupiah currency supported by hedging facilities, to avoid the risk of US dollar exchange rate fluctuations that have been a heavy burden on national airline operations.
The presence of Danantara as a lessor is also expected to serve as a catalyst to address fleet shortages experienced by several national airlines since the post-pandemic era. This step is considered aligned with the development of the Mandiri Aviation Leasing Fund, which was previously initiated by Danantara as a preliminary step to master investment portfolios in the global aviation sector.
