FLEET - US-Bangla Airlines wet leases BBN Airlines Indonesia B737s

US-Bangla Airlines (BS, Dhaka) has wet leased two B737-800s from BBN Airlines Indonesia (0B, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta). The first, PK-BBH (msn 36121), ferried to Dhaka on March 31, 2025, and commenced operating for US-Bangla the following day. The second B737, PK BBG (msn 39390) is due to ferry to Bangladesh in early May.

Both aircraft are configured in an 189-passenger all-economy class layout. They will operate international routes from Dhaka to the Middle East, Thailand, Maldives, and Singapore. The aircraft and crew are fully based in Dhaka. FlightRadar24 ADS-B data indicates PK-BBH is primarily flying on the Dhaka-Singapore Changi and Dhaka-Bangkok Suvarnabhumi city pairs.

“This partnership marks a significant milestone in our expansion within the Asian market,” said BBN Airlines Indonesia Chairman Martynas Grigas.

The second B737-800 will begin operating for US-Bangla Airlines after finishing a five-month wet-lease contract with Sriwijaya Air (SJ, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta). "We’re signing a couple more agreements,” Grigas told ch-aviation in February.

BBN Airlines Indonesia has enjoyed a strong take-up of its ACMI product since securing its air operator's certificate in 2023. However, it hasn't all gone to plan. Among other things, it is suing SpiceJet (SG, Delhi International) for almost USD6 million after wet leasing three B737-800s to it during the 2024 IATA summer but not getting paid.

“US-Bangla has been consistently seeking credible partners for ACMI leases, and with BBN Airlines Indonesia now on board, this marks our second ACMI partnership with Avia Solutions Group,” said Jitendra Pandey, US-Bangla Airlines' commercial chief.

In addition to PK-BBH, US-Bangla currently wet-leases another B737-800, from SkyUp MT. It also operates five of its own B737-800s, one DHC-8-Q400, one (wet leased) B737-200(F), ten ATR72-600s, and two A330-300s. US-Bangla Airlines flies to 21 airports in 11 countries.

Avia Solutions Group, parent entity of BBN Airlines Indonesia, says a quick turnaround time was a hallmark of this wet leasing deal. The parties completed all operational preparations, including aircraft positioning, regulatory compliance, and crew readiness, within four weeks. In addition to BBN Airlines-supplied crew, a representative crew member from US-Bangla will also be present on each flight.

CH Aviation

ROUTES / FLEET - BBN Airlines Indonesia launches scheduled passenger ops

BBN Airlines Indonesia (7B, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta) has commenced scheduled passenger flights, launching what will be daily Jakarta Soekarno Hatta-Surabaya roundtrips on September 27, 2024. Despite obtaining its air operator's certificate (AOC) for commercial passenger flights from Indonesia's civil aviation authority (Direktorat Jenderal Perhubungan Udara - DJPU) in March, until now, the Avia Solutions Group subsidiary has only operated as an ACMI carrier.
ADS-B data shows B737-800 PK-BBH (msn 36121) operated the first scheduled services as flight 7B763/764. Beginning September 30, the airline will start daily Jakarta-Balikpapan roundtrips, to be followed by the start of daily Jakarta-Denpasar roundtrips on October 2.
BBN Airlines Indonesia has three B737-800s, which until mid-September were all operating for SpiceJet (SG, Delhi International). PK-BBF (msn 29676), PK-BBG (msn 39390), and PK-BBH all ferried from Delhi to Jakarta on September 10. The operator also has a pair of B737-800(BCF)s and is expecting a B737-400(SF).
Speaking to ch-aviation earlier this year, BBN Airlines Indonesia chairman Martynas Grigas flagged the arrival of the three passenger-configured aircraft, noting that three aircraft was the minimum requirement to secure an Indonesian passenger AOC. However, at the time he also suggested that the passenger aircraft were more likely to be used for ACMI services than scheduled services. According to ch-aviation PRO airlines data, BBN Airlines Indonesia becomes the country's 14th scheduled passenger operator.
Grigas said there were considerable untapped ACMI opportunities in Australia and Southeast Asia. Since then, BBN Airlines Indonesia has obtained a foreign air operator's certificate (FAOC) from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority and similar authorisations from the relevant agencies in the Philippines and Singapore.

CH Aviation

Images: BBN Indonesia

NEW AIRLINE - BBN Airlines Indonesia has recently obtained an additional AOC for commercial passenger flights from the Indonesia DGCA

 

BBN Airlines Indonesia has recently obtained an additional AOC for commercial passenger flights from the Indonesia DGCA. The carrier will use three B737-800s for such flights, and is targeting operating a total of 40 aircraft by 2027.

FLEET - BBN Airlines Indonesia announces the addition of three B737-800 and one B737-400F, as the carrier looks to improve its charter flight services in Indonesia from early March 2024.

 BBN Airlines Indonesia’s strategic plan is to be able to operate a total of 40 aircraft by the end of 2027.

BBN Airlines