Iskandar Ismail, the Businessman from Aceh Behind Indonesia Airlines

March 26, 2025 | 09:56 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The new airline Indonesia Airlines Group (INA) is reportedly set to start operating. Unlike the majority of local airlines that focus on domestic flights, INA offers a premium concept and focuses on international routes.

This airline is supported by Calypte Holding Pte. Ltd., a company based in Singapore and engaged in the energy, agriculture, and aviation sectors. Despite being based in Singapore, the airline still has a close relationship with Indonesia, both in terms of ownership and business strategy. Indonesia Airlines will also be headquartered at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, Banten.

INA will operate 20 modern aircraft, consisting of 10 Airbus A321neo or A321LR for medium-haul routes and 10 Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 787-9 for long-haul flights. With this strategy, Indonesia Airlines aspires to become a new competitor in the international aviation industry.

However, despite the widespread rumors about its imminent operation on various social media, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of the Ministry of Transportation has stated that they have not received any applications for permits or administrative documents related to the establishment and operation of Indonesia Airlines.

"We emphasize that until today, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has not received any applications for the Air Carrier Operating Certificate (AOC) or the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) on behalf of Indonesia Airlines," said the Acting Director General of Civil Aviation of the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) Lukman F. Laisa in a statement in Jakarta on Sunday, March 23, 2025 as quoted from Antara.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (Ditjen Hubud) of the Ministry of Transportation clarified that they have not received any applications for permits or administrative documents from any business entity under the name Indonesia Airlines.

"Both related to the establishment of a scheduled commercial air transport company and operational flight permits in the Indonesian airspace," he said.

Meanwhile, it is worth knowing that the figure behind the establishment of Indonesia Airlines is Iskandar Ismail, a businessman from Aceh, Indonesia with extensive experience in the energy and finance sectors. With a strong business vision and a wide international network, Iskandar is determined to make INA a world-class airline that can compete in the global aviation market.

Profile of Iskandar Ismail

Iskandar Ismail was born in Bireuen, Aceh, on April 7, 1983. He pursued higher education at Syiah Kuala University (USK) in Banda Aceh. His career began after the Aceh tsunami disaster, when he joined the Aceh-Nias Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (BRR) to assist in the recovery of the region.

Iskandar then joined the State Electricity Company (PLN) from 2006 to 2009, where he gained in-depth experience in the electricity and renewable energy sector. His career continued in the banking and insurance sector, expanding his network in the financial world.

After serving for several years in the banking sector, Iskandar began actively interacting with various investors and professionals in the energy field. In 2015, he decided to leave the banking world and start an electricity project in Indonesia.

In 2017, Iskandar established a company in the energy sector. However, this business faced major challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic, leading Iskandar to seek other opportunities that eventually brought him to Singapore. There, Iskandar met new business partners and established Calypte Holding Pte. Ltd. in 2022.

Currently, Calypte Holding has three main sectors: energy, agriculture, and aviation. The company is the majority shareholder of Indonesia Airlines, making it part of Calypte's expansion strategy in the aviation industry.

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