Citilink
Citilink is an Indonesian low-cost airline and a subsidiary of Garuda Indonesia, operating scheduled passenger and cargo flights to domestic and international destinations primarily in Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.[1] Established in July 2001 as a low-cost brand of Garuda Indonesia, Citilink began operations on July 16, 2001, with its inaugural flight from Jakarta to Surabaya using Fokker F28 aircraft to serve underserved regional routes.[2] Incorporated as a separate entity, PT Citilink Indonesia, on January 6, 2009, via notarial deed, it received official approval from the Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights on April 22, 2009, and commenced independent operations under its own Air Operator Certificate on July 30, 2012.[1] Garuda Indonesia holds 98.65% ownership, with the remaining 1.35% owned by PT Aerowisata, reflecting its integration within the state-owned Garuda Group.[1] Headquartered in Jakarta at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK), Citilink maintains a secondary hub at Surabaya's Juanda International Airport (SUB), enabling a network of 97 routes to 49 destinations as of 2025, including major domestic cities like Denpasar, Medan, and Makassar, and international points such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Perth, and Jeddah.[1][3] The airline operates over 330 daily flight frequencies, focusing on point-to-point services with modern, fuel-efficient aircraft to support affordable travel across Indonesia and beyond.[3] Citilink's fleet consists of 58 aircraft with an average age of 11.6 years as of November 2025, primarily comprising the Airbus A320 family—including A320-200 and A320neo variants—and two active ATR 72-600 turboprops for regional routes, alongside one Airbus A330-300 and one Boeing 737-500; however, many aircraft (around 23) are currently parked, with plans for reactivation supported by recent state funding.[4][5] The carrier has evolved its fleet from initial Fokker jets to an all-Airbus narrowbody configuration since 2011, with some older types retained, emphasizing safety, efficiency, and low operating costs.[2] Recognized for operational excellence, Citilink earned a 4-star rating from Skytrax in 2018 and 2019, the TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice award from 2018 to 2020, and became the second low-cost carrier globally to receive a 5-star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating from Skytrax in 2021.[1] In 2015, it achieved ISO 9001:2015 certification for delay management procedures, underscoring its commitment to reliable service.[2] As of 2025, Citilink continues to expand, with plans to increase flight frequencies and add new routes amid ongoing discussions for potential consolidation with other state-owned carriers like Pelita Air, targeted for completion by year-end.[6]History
Founding and early years (2001–2010)
Citilink was established in July 2001 as a strategic business unit (SBU) of Garuda Indonesia, aimed at providing shuttle services between major Indonesian cities to complement the parent company's network. The airline launched its inaugural flight on July 16, 2001, operating the Jakarta-Surabaya route with two Fokker F28 aircraft, focusing on high-frequency domestic connections to support business travel and regional connectivity. By the end of 2001, Garuda had transferred five Fokker F28s to Citilink, enabling initial expansion to additional domestic destinations such as Yogyakarta, Tarakan, Makassar, and Balikpapan.[2][7][8] During its early years, Citilink emphasized efficient, point-to-point operations on key domestic routes, serving as Garuda's regional arm with a growing network of short-haul flights. The fleet began transitioning in 2004 to Boeing 737-300 aircraft, which offered greater capacity and range, allowing service to up to 10 cities by the mid-2000s while maintaining a focus on affordability and frequency for domestic passengers. This period laid the foundation for Citilink's role in Indonesia's aviation market, operating under Garuda's air operator certificate.[7][9] In 2008, Citilink suspended all operations for one year due to challenges at its parent company Garuda Indonesia. Operations resumed in 2009 exclusively with Boeing 737-300s, marking a pivotal recovery milestone and stabilizing the airline's domestic shuttle services.[7]Rebranding to low-cost carrier (2011–2012)
In 2011, as part of Garuda Indonesia's ongoing financial recovery under CEO Emirsyah Satar, the company announced plans to transform Citilink into a full-service low-cost carrier, leveraging the funds from Garuda's initial public offering completed on February 11, 2011, to support fleet modernization and market expansion.[10] This strategic pivot aimed to position Citilink as a competitive player in Indonesia's burgeoning low-cost aviation sector, shifting from its earlier hybrid model to a dedicated economy-focused operation.[11] The rebranding launched on July 30, 2011, introducing economy-only cabins, simplified point-to-point routes, and streamlined services to reduce costs and attract price-sensitive passengers on domestic flights.[7] Concurrently, Garuda detailed the spin-off process, which would establish Citilink as an independent entity while retaining majority ownership, with preparations underway for a potential initial public offering to fund further growth.[12] The spin-off was finalized in June 2012, when Citilink obtained its own Air Operator's Certificate and became 99% owned by Garuda Indonesia, allowing it to operate autonomously with its distinct branding, callsign, and airline codes.[7][13] As part of the transition, Citilink phased out its aging Boeing 737-300 fleet in favor of more efficient Airbus A320 aircraft; in June 2011, Garuda signed a memorandum of understanding for 25 A320s dedicated to Citilink, with the first delivery arriving in September 2011 to enable expanded operations.[14][15] Citilink's early low-cost operations showed strong initial performance, with rapid growth in its domestic network and load factors reaching approximately 76.6% in the second quarter of 2011, reflecting robust demand for affordable air travel within Indonesia.[16] By the end of 2011, the carrier had carried 1.6 million passengers, laying the foundation for sustained expansion.[17]Expansion and recent developments (2013–present)
Following its rebranding, Citilink accelerated domestic network growth, reaching over 20 cities by 2015 through increased frequencies on existing routes and additions to secondary airports like Lombok International Airport and Sam Ratulangi International Airport in Manado.[18][19] This expansion was supported by a 2013 order for 25 ATR 72-600 turboprops with purchase options for 25 more, aimed at serving underserved regional markets, enabling the airline to capture a larger share of Indonesia's low-cost sector amid rising demand.[19][20] Passenger traffic surged 24% in 2015, with key hubs like Jakarta's Halim Perdanakusuma Airport and Medan Polonia Airport seeing enhanced operations.[21] Citilink's international expansion began with its first route to Johor Bahru, Malaysia, in March 2014. Subsequent launches included Dili in Timor-Leste in 2017, Kuala Lumpur and Penang in Malaysia in 2018, Phnom Penh in Cambodia and Perth in Australia in 2019, Melbourne (via Avalon Airport) and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia in 2020, and Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea in 2023. Increased frequencies to Jeddah from cities like Padang were added in subsequent years, alongside a new Jakarta-Bangkok route planned to start in December 2025. By 2024, the airline served over 50 destinations with 86 routes, including international links to Malaysia, Australia, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Papua New Guinea.[22][2][23][24][1] The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted operations, leading to fleet grounding in early 2020 and a sharp decline in demand due to travel restrictions and economic contraction.[25] Citilink secured approximately US$384 million in loans and credit lines from state-owned Bank Rakyat Indonesia in 2020 as part of initial relief measures.[26] Through Garuda Indonesia's 2021 restructuring, the airline received further government support via debt rescheduling and operational aid, enabling gradual recovery.[27] Routes resumed progressively, achieving about 70% of pre-pandemic capacity by 2022 with reopened domestic and international services, including to Penang and Dili.[28] In 2021, Citilink earned a 5-star COVID-19 Safety Rating from Skytrax for its health protocols.[2] Key milestones post-2019 included the introduction of Airbus A320neo aircraft in 2017 for fuel-efficient short-haul operations, with deliveries continuing into the early 2020s.[2] In 2019, Citilink added two Airbus A330-900neo widebodies, originally ordered by WOW Air, initially planned for long-haul routes to Europe and Japan but redirected to Asian and Middle Eastern destinations like Jeddah amid shifting priorities.[7] These aircraft supported expanded regional long-haul services, with operations noted in 2024 on routes such as Jakarta to Denpasar.[29] Passenger numbers reached 4.9 million in the first half of 2025, reflecting sustained recovery and network growth.[30] Strategic codeshare partnerships with Garuda Indonesia, launched in early 2024, enhanced connectivity across the group.[31] In 2025, Citilink advanced its recovery through fleet reactivation initiatives. In September 2025, the airline planned to bring additional aircraft back into service as part of the Garuda Group's optimization efforts. In November 2025, Garuda Indonesia received a US$1.4 billion capital injection from the sovereign wealth fund Danantara, with funds allocated to Citilink for fleet maintenance and operational enhancements.[32][27] Citilink faced ongoing challenges, including intense competition from AirAsia in Southeast Asia and volatility in fuel prices that pressured low-cost margins.[33] Recovery efforts involved environmental initiatives, such as planting 1,000 mangrove trees in 2022, and infrastructure shifts like moving Bandung operations to Kertajati Airport in 2023 to optimize costs.[2]Corporate affairs
Ownership and management
Citilink Indonesia is a subsidiary of the Garuda Indonesia Group, with Garuda holding a 98.65% stake as of the latest available data, and the remaining 1.35% owned by PT Aerowisata.[1] The airline originated as a low-cost division of Garuda Indonesia in 2001, operating under the parent company's umbrella until its formal spin-off as a separate entity on July 30, 2012, initially structured with 67% ownership by Garuda and 33% by PT Aero Wisata to facilitate independent operations while maintaining group alignment.[1] This structure evolved, with Garuda's stake increasing to 98.65% by 2017. Amid brief discussions in 2014 about potentially selling a minority stake to strategic investors, including international carriers, though these plans were ultimately shelved to preserve full group integration.[34] Citilink's management operates under the oversight of Garuda Indonesia's board, ensuring alignment with group strategies, while maintaining its own executive leadership based at the headquarters in Jakarta. The current Chief Executive Officer is Darsito Hendroseputro, appointed in June 2025 to drive operational efficiency and fleet reactivation amid ongoing recovery initiatives.[35] With approximately 2,000 employees, the company emphasizes lean governance to support its low-cost model.[36] Key executives include directors overseeing operations and finance, who play pivotal roles in executing Garuda's post-2021 recovery measures, such as aircraft maintenance partnerships and cost optimization to address pandemic-induced challenges.[37] These leaders have been integral to the group's restructuring, focusing on debt reduction and liquidity enhancement through targeted investments in Citilink's network.[38] Financially, Citilink contributed to the Garuda Group's return to profitability in 2023 following substantial pandemic-era losses, with operating revenue reaching USD 824.2 million (approximately IDR 12.8 trillion) in 2024, driven by increased passenger traffic and route expansion.[39] In November 2025, Garuda announced it would allocate Rp14.9 trillion (63% of a Rp23.67 trillion injection from sovereign wealth fund Danantara) to Citilink for working capital and settling obligations, strengthening its financial position without changing ownership.[40] This recovery underscores the subsidiary's role in bolstering overall group resilience amid capital injections from Indonesia's sovereign wealth fund Danantara.[41]Hubs, bases, and operational structure
Citilink's primary hub is Soekarno–Hatta International Airport (CGK) in Jakarta, which serves as the central point for the majority of its operations.[42][43] This facility handles the bulk of departures and arrivals, supporting the airline's extensive domestic network and facilitating efficient turnaround times for its fleet. As a low-cost carrier within the Garuda Indonesia Group, Citilink's hub strategy at CGK aligns with broader group priorities for connectivity in Indonesia's capital region.[1] The airline maintains focus cities at Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) in Bali, Juanda International Airport (SUB) in Surabaya, and Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport (UPG) in Makassar to enhance regional connectivity across Indonesia's key population centers.[44][45] These secondary bases enable Citilink to optimize short-haul routes, reduce operational costs, and provide direct access to high-demand areas in eastern and central Indonesia without relying solely on the primary hub. For instance, DPS and SUB function as significant operational nodes, supporting frequent flights to nearby destinations.[46] Citilink's operational structure centers on a maintenance base at Soekarno–Hatta International Airport, where it collaborates with PT Garuda Maintenance Facility Aero Asia Tbk (GMF) for aircraft servicing and repairs.[47] Ground handling services are primarily provided through Garuda Indonesia's infrastructure at major airports, ensuring seamless integration within the group. The airline operates 24/7, conducting more than 330 daily flights across its network as of 2025, which underscores its role in high-frequency, point-to-point service delivery.[3] In terms of expansion, Citilink established a new focus city at Kualanamu International Airport (KNO) in Medan in 2022, enhancing connectivity for Sumatra routes and strengthening its presence in western Indonesia.[48] This development includes integration with Garuda Indonesia's wide-body operations at CGK, allowing for coordinated scheduling and resource sharing. Additionally, since 2024, Citilink has participated in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) trials at its hubs, including a supply of 30,000 liters from Pertamina for operations during the Bali International Airshow, aimed at reducing carbon emissions.[49]Destinations and network
Domestic and regional routes
Citilink operates an extensive domestic network spanning 37 cities across Indonesia, providing connectivity to major population centers and remote regions. Key routes include high-frequency services between Jakarta and Surabaya, with approximately 10 daily flights operated from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) to Juanda International Airport (SUB), catering to business and leisure travelers in Java's economic corridor. Similarly, the Jakarta-Denpasar (Bali) route features four daily flights, supporting tourism to one of Indonesia's premier destinations. The network extends to eastern Indonesia, exemplified by direct connections from Jakarta to Ambon, facilitating access to Maluku Province and promoting regional development in underserved areas like Papua through links to Jayapura.[50][51][52][53] In the regional sphere, Citilink has maintained short-haul Southeast Asian operations since 2012, focusing on high-demand corridors under 2,000 km. Current destinations include Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Singapore, with services from hubs like Jakarta and Batam offering multiple weekly frequencies to support cross-border leisure and visiting friends and relatives (VFR) travel. A notable expansion is the introduction of daily direct flights from Jakarta to Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport starting December 12, 2025, enhancing connectivity to Thailand with at least seven weekly operations and targeting over 10 weekly frequencies on established routes like those to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. These regional links emphasize efficient, low-cost access to neighboring markets, often exceeding 10 weekly flights per destination to meet growing demand.[54][55][56][50] Citilink commands a significant portion of Indonesia's domestic low-cost carrier market, contributing to the Garuda Indonesia Group's overall 50% share as of mid-2025, with a focus on underserved routes in Sumatra (e.g., Palembang, Pekanbaru) and Papua (e.g., Jayapura, Sorong) to stimulate economic growth and tourism. Recent domestic additions include the Jakarta-Way Kanan route in Lampung Province, launched on February 5, 2025, to bolster connectivity in southern Sumatra, alongside ongoing services to emerging tourism spots like Labuan Bajo since its integration into the network around 2023. Passenger traffic on these routes is predominantly leisure-oriented and VFR, reflecting the low-cost model, with an average stage length of approximately 800 km suited to Indonesia's archipelagic geography.[57][58][59][60][61]International destinations
Citilink's international network emphasizes medium-haul routes to Southeast Asia, with additional long-haul services to the Middle East and select other regions, targeting leisure travel and migrant worker demand. These routes connect primarily from hubs in Jakarta, Surabaya, and Denpasar, often supported by domestic feeder flights to consolidate passengers. As of November 2025, active international destinations are limited to three: Singapore (SIN), Kuala Lumpur (KUL) in Malaysia, and Dili (DIL) in Timor-Leste.[62][50] In Southeast Asia, Citilink operates non-stop services to Singapore (SIN) and Kuala Lumpur (KUL) in Malaysia. These medium-haul routes, typically under 3,000 km, facilitate regional tourism and business travel, with frequencies varying from daily to several times weekly depending on demand. Previous services to Penang (PEN) in Malaysia and Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) in Vietnam have been operated but are not currently active.[63][64][50] The airline entered the Australian market in 2018 with direct flights from Denpasar (DPS) to Perth (PER), initially operating up to five weekly services on Airbus A320 aircraft to serve leisure and family reunion traffic between Indonesia and Australia. However, these operations were suspended starting February 2025 due to operational challenges, with all bookings for the remainder of the year canceled.[65][66] Long-haul services include seasonal routes to Jeddah (JED) in Saudi Arabia, operated primarily for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims from multiple Indonesian departure points such as Medan, Padang, and Jakarta. Frequencies increase during pilgrimage seasons, with examples including up to three weekly flights from Padang in late 2023 and ongoing direct services using Airbus A330 aircraft in 2024 and 2025.[31][67] Citilink's international footprint has grown from a limited base of fewer than five destinations in 2015—focused mainly on short regional hops—to a peak of around 10-15 in prior years, incorporating expansions to China such as post-COVID routes to Chongqing (CKG) and direct services from Batam to Kunming starting in 2024, though many are currently suspended or seasonal as of November 2025. These developments prioritize high-demand markets for migrant workers and leisure.[68][69][70][50]Codeshare and interline partnerships
Citilink operates codeshare agreements primarily with its parent company, Garuda Indonesia, providing full integration for seamless connectivity on domestic routes since its rebranding as a low-cost carrier in 2011. This partnership was formalized and expanded in February 2024 to include selected domestic Indonesian routes, allowing passengers to book through a single ticket with shared flight codes.[71][72] Through Garuda Indonesia's broader network, Citilink benefits from connectivity via Garuda's codeshare arrangements with Malaysia Airlines, covering Southeast Asia routes since their resumption in 2014. Similarly, connections to Turkish Airlines are facilitated via Garuda Indonesia's SkyTeam membership, providing access to Europe and the Middle East.[73][72] Citilink maintains interline partnerships with more than 20 carriers, including Scoot, Hahn Air, and AirAsia, supporting baggage transfer, through-check-in, and e-ticket interoperability compliant with IATA standards. A notable recent addition is the 2023 interline agreement with AirAsia, which boosts South Asia connectivity by linking Citilink's domestic Indonesian network to AirAsia's international routes, particularly to underserved tier-3 and tier-4 cities, with implementation starting in early 2025. While Citilink does not hold full SkyTeam membership like its parent, it leverages bilateral ties for operational synergies, such as shared check-in counters at Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta (CGK) hub.[74][75][76] These partnerships provide Citilink passengers access to over 200 additional destinations worldwide via connecting flights, with joint loyalty program integration through the GetLink initiative, allowing GarudaMiles members to earn and redeem points on Citilink services and vice versa.[77][78]Fleet
Current fleet composition
As of November 2025, Citilink operates a fleet of 58 aircraft, primarily Airbus narrowbodies with ATR turboprops, one widebody, and one Boeing freighter, featuring a blue and white livery with prominent "Citilink" branding on the fuselage.[4] The airline maintains a low-cost carrier model with high-density economy configurations across its passenger fleet, offering no first-class seating to maximize capacity and affordability.[79] The fleet primarily comprises narrow-body Airbus A320 variants for domestic and short-haul operations, supplemented by ATR 72-600 turboprops for regional routes, an Airbus A330-300 widebody for long-haul services, and a Boeing 737-500SF dedicated freighter. Configurations emphasize all-economy layouts for the A320 family and ATR, while the A330-300 operates in a two-class setup.| Aircraft Type | Total | Active | Seats (Configuration) | Average Age | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-200 | 39 | 29 | 180 (all-economy) | 11.8 years | Used for domestic and short-haul flights.[4] |
| Airbus A320neo | 10 | 2 | 180 (all-economy, with Sharklets) | 7.7 years | Fuel-efficient model; deliveries from 2013 order ongoing.[4] |
| ATR 72-600 | 7 | 2 | 70 (all-economy) | 11.0 years | Used for regional domestic routes.[4] |
| Airbus A330-300 | 1 | 1 | 410 (12 business, 398 economy) | 28.8 years | Leased for long-haul operations.[4] |
| Boeing 737-500SF | 1 | 1 | Cargo (no passengers) | 28.2 years | Dedicated freighter for cargo services.[4] |