Mandala Airlines Logo

Mandala Airlines, an Indonesian regional charter airline, was established in 1969 under the patronage of Saratoga Group, an Indonesian media company.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Mandala Airlines evolved from a charter airline to a scheduled passenger carrier. It became a conduit for travel from Jakarta to other significant cities in Indonesia, bringing the archipelago closer together with its domestic routes.

In the following decades, Mandala Airlines made a leap towards modernization. It was able to expand its services by adding jets to its fleet for domestic and regional destinations such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia.

In the mid-2000s, Mandala Airlines gained momentum and became the third-largest carrier in Indonesia after Garuda Indonesia and Lion Air. At its peak, Mandala Airlines had a fleet of more than 30 aircraft and gained a significant position in the country’s aviation industry.

Unfortunately, the late 2000s saw financial difficulties for Mandala. High fuel prices and increasing competition from low-cost carriers such as Lion Air led to increased financial burdens. The airline became mired in debt and eventually declared bankruptcy.

As fate would have it, Mandala Airlines was bought by Indonesian budget airline Tigerair in 2011. The new owner attempted to revive the beleaguered airline, but despite restructuring efforts, Mandala Airlines ceased operations in July 2014. Its 45-year journey in the aviation industry came to an end.

Throughout its history, Mandala Airlines has carried tens of millions of passengers across the region and domestically, and in 2014, it ceased to experience financial difficulties. It is remembered for its significant role as Indonesia’s third main airline after Garuda and Lion Air.