TransNusa officially opened a direct flight route of Manado-Guangzhou on October 29th, 2024 to operate scheduled flights. This is the first time for an overseas airline to use a China-made aircraft to fly international routes to and from China, and it is also the longest commercial route currently flown by ARJ21 aircraft. The opening of this new route will further promote the economic and cultural exchanges among major cities of China and Indonesia, and also marks a new journey for the overseas commercial operation of the China-made aircraft.

The aircraft of the inaugural flight took off from Sam Ratulangi International Airport in Menado, Indonesia at 5:05 Beijing time on October 29th, and arrived at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport at 9:00. It is planned to operate three flights per week at the beginning of the route operation, and gradually increase to one flight per day by the end of November.

Before the arrival of the inaugural flight, an inaugural flight ceremony was jointly held by TransNusa and Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. Leaders from units such as Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Guangzhou, CAAC Central and Southern Regional Administration, COMAC, China Aircraft Leasing Co., Ltd. (CALC), Guangdong Airport Authority Co., Ltd. and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport attended the ceremony.

Mr. Yu Shihai, Member of Standing Committee of the Party Committee and CFO of COMAC, expressed that TransNusa was the first overseas airline to operate ARJ21 aircraft, and had made important contributions to accumulating experience in overseas operation of ARJ21 aircraft and exploring a successful business mode of ARJ21 aircraft. The inaugural flight of ARJ21 aircraft in its longest commercial route was another important achievement of the cooperation between both sides. Looking forward to the future, COMAC would insist on the principle of being customer centered, continue to deepen cooperation with partners from all walks of life, give full play to their respective advantages, and jointly promote high-quality development of aviation industry.

Mdm. Liu Wanting, President and Chief Business Officer of CALC, and Chinese Chairman of TransNusa, expressed that she was very happy to share with everyone this important moment to welcome ARJ21 home. ARJ21, as a regional aircraft independently developed by China, had become an important means of transportation connecting the two countries with its high fuel economy and comfortable riding experience. An orderly increase in the number of international flights operated by ARJ21 aircraft was one of the long-term development strategies of TransNusa, and TransNusa looked forward to further deepening cooperation with COMAC to jointly promote the development of the trunk liner career.