Jetstar Asia permanently ceased operations on July 31, closing a chapter in low-cost regional travel. Less than three weeks later, Pelita Air stepped onto the international stage, launching its first route to Singapore on August 18.

A subsidiary of PT Pertamina, Pelita Air aims to offer an alternative mode of travel while capturing the market niche left by Jetstar Asia. Its entry into international routes is expected to lift passenger flows at Indonesia’s international airports, underscoring the aviation sector’s post-pandemic recovery.

Indonesia’s aviation industry was hit hard by global mobility restrictions during the coronavirus outbreak. In 2020, international passenger movements (arrivals, departures, and transits) at Indonesian airports fell to about 7.27 million—an 81% plunge from 37.3 million in 2019.

The trough came in 2021, when international passenger numbers dropped to just 1.37 million. Recovery followed as restrictions eased: in 2024, international passengers surpassed pre-pandemic levels, reaching 38 million.

In the first five months of 2025, international passenger numbers totaled 16.17 million. The addition of new players on international routes, particularly domestic carriers, should further boost international traffic at Indonesian airports, with significant spillover effects for the domestic economy, especially tourism.