Erick Thohir Regarding Pelita Air Joining Garuda Indonesia: The Study Process Is In Danantara

SOE Minister Erick Thohir. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir opened his voice regarding the plan to merge Pelita Air airline to PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk.

He said the study related to the plan was in Danantara Indonesia.

Erick admitted that the Ministry of SOEs only provided a purpose.

"We from the Ministry of SOEs will follow the policy (policy) that will be carried out by Danantara. If we are just approval (approval) at the end. So the study process is in Danantara," Erick said when met at the DPR RI, Jakarta, Monday, September 15.

Even so, Erick said the Ministry of SOEs in principle supports the steps that Danantara will take. However, Erick emphasized that the entire analysis process to benchmarking is entirely available in Danantara.

"In principle, we support what Danantara will do, but the process ends with us. But the important thing is, the process rather than the study, benchmarking is not all with us anymore," he said.

Previously, Pertamina President Director Simon Aloysius Mantiri revealed that his party plans to release several subsidiaries to focus on the oil and gas (oil and gas) business as well as new and renewable energy.

Simon said one of the things that will be released is Pelita Air. Later, the airline will be combined with Garuda Indonesia.

"For example, for airlines, we are conducting an initial assessment for the merger with Garuda Indonesia," Simon said in a hearing (RDP) with Commission VI of the DPR, Thursday, September 11.

For your information, the news of Pelita Air joining Garuda Indonesia has been sticking out since 2023.

In January 2025, Erick Thohir said the plan to consolidate or merge state-owned airlines was carried out for the development of the domestic aviation industry.

The merger involved Pelita Air, which is currently under PT Pertamina (Persero) and PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk. The plan, Pelita will be combined with Garuda Indonesia.

Erick said Garuda Indonesia airlines will serve premium class flights.

Meanwhile, Pelita Air serves premium economy class flights.

Meanwhile, Citilink will serve low-cost carrier (LCC) flights.

"Yes, we are consolidating. Why? Garuda will indeed be premium, Pelita premium economy and of course there is a low cost," he said when met at The Energy Building, Jakarta, Thursday, January 9.

Menurut Erick, integrasi maskapai pelat merah ini memang harus terjadi.

Tujuannya, lanjutnya, untuk mendorong pengembangan industri penerbangan. Apalagi Indonesia saat ini mengalami kekurangan armada.

“Nah ini memang integrasi ini harus terjadi. Dan memang kan jumlah pesawat kita enggak cukup,” ucapnya.

According to Erick, the integration of this state-owned airline must indeed occur.

The goal, he continued, was to encourage the development of the aviation industry. Moreover, Indonesia is currently experiencing a shortage of fleets.

"Well, this integration must happen. And indeed the number of our planes is not enough," he said.