Who Owns Batik Air Which Went Viral After Kaesang Nyasar'schoice Incident To Kualanamu Medan?

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

YOGYAKARTA - Batik Air airline is in the spotlight after President Joko Widodo's youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep experienced an unpleasant incident when flying with the airline. So, who owns Batik Air?

It is known, on Monday, October 14, 2022, Kaesang talked about the unfortunate fate he experienced when he flew from Singapore to Surabaya on Sunday night.

Kaesang, who boarded Batik Air, complained about the less excellent service from the airline. How not, the suitcase he brought did not reach Juanda Airport, but went to Kualanamu Airport, Medan, North Sumatra.

"Horeeee took Batik Air to Surabaya but my suitcase was safe until Kualanamu airport. Thank you Batik Air," wrote @kaesangp, quoted by VOI Monday, November 14.

Not quite there, Kaesang again quipped Batik Air because of the incident of a stray suitcase. "Tonight I have a reason not to take a bath in my mother because my suitcase was flown by Batik Air to Kualanamu. Thank you Batik Air," wrote Kaesang.

After the incident, Batik Air apologized to Kaesang.

"Responding to complaints about baggage that was not received at the airport destination of one of the guests on behalf of Pangarep, Kaesang and news developments, Batik Air apologized for the inconvenience that had arisen," said Corporate Communications Strategic of Batik Air Danang Mandala Prihantoro in a written statement, Monday, November 14.

The many spotlights on Batik Air made the owner's name dragged along.

So, Who owns Batik Air?

Please note, Batik Air is a private airline based in Indonesia. This airline was founded in 2013 and is a subsidiary of Lion Air Group.

Lion Air was founded by Rusdi Kirana and his brother, Kusnan Kirana in 1999. In 2000, Lion Air aired for the first time on the Jakarta-Pontianak route.

Before founding Lion Air, Rusdi started his career as a supplier of branded type machines Brother. At that time, Rusdi had only made 10 US dollars per month. Meanwhile, Kusnan was noted to have worked in the travel sector in 1981.

Rusdi Kirana once made the public excited in 2013. How could I not, he signed the purchase contract for 234 Airbus aircraft worth 24 billion US dollars. The signing of the contract was witnessed directly by French President Franco Holland.

The same breakthrough also occurred in 2011. At that time, Rusdi finalized the purchase of 230 Boeing 737 aircraft worth 22.4 billion dollars. The plane purchase contract was made in front of President Barack Obama.

Although he managed to buy hundreds of planes from the manufacturer, Rusdi's lifestyle was very simple.

In 2014, Rusdi decided to enter politics. He found his political vehicle, namely the National Awakening Party (PKB). In the party, Rusdi served as Deputy General Chair.

In 2017, Rusdi received the▁harga d'Henneur award from the President of France. The award was given to Rusdi as a sign of service for moving the French economy by ordering an aircraft fleet of 234 Airbus units in March 2013.

Rusdi and Kusnan Kirana have been included in the list of the richest people in Indonesia in 2019 according to the Forbes economic magazine. Rusdi's total assets at that time reached 835 million US dollars or Rp. 13 trillion.

This is information about who owns Batik Air.