Garuda Indonesia has grounded at least 15 aircraft due to difficulties covering maintenance costs, according to Bloomberg, while its low-cost subsidiary Citilink has grounded nearly half of its fleet. The situation raises serious concerns not only about the state-controlled airline’s financial recovery but also about operational safety.

As of May 7, data from planespotters.net shows Garuda Indonesia has 16 aircraft parked, primarily A330s and 737s, while Citilink has grounded 26 aircraft, mostly A320s and ATR 72s.

One source told Bloomberg that several suppliers to Indonesia’s flag carrier are now demanding advance payment for parts and services, reflecting growing unease about Garuda’s financial health.

However, Garuda is not the only Indonesian airline with a significant number of parked aircraft.

Before examining the numbers in detail, it’s important to note that aircraft may be grounded for a range of legitimate operational reasons. These include scheduled or heavy maintenance, seasonal fluctuations in demand, or logistical needs such as aircraft repositioning. Airlines also sometimes operate "ghost flights" with few or no passengers to retain valuable airport slots. Additionally, some aircraft are stored long-term or retired to boneyards, where they may be scrapped for parts or kept in reserve.

Looking at Indonesia’s other major carriers we see that

• AirAsia Indonesia operates a fleet of 30 A320 aircraft, with 9 (or one-third) currently parked.

• Lion Air has 95 of its 371 aircraft grounded.

What stands out however and makes this more concerning is the scale of grounded aircraft in Indonesia compared to other major international carriers. For example:

• Qantas has only 9 out of 116 aircraft grounded.

• Singapore Airlines has 9 out of 148 grounded.

• Ryanair, Europe’s largest carrier, has just 3 of its 321 aircraft out of service.

According to Subhas Menon, Director General of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), the Asia-Pacific aviation sector is undergoing a robust post-pandemic recovery, outpacing many other regions. However, the industry continues to grapple with significant challenges, including supply chain disruptions, spare part shortages, rising operational costs, and a shortfall of skilled labor and pilots. The transition toward more sustainable operations is also adding complexity and cost.

AirlineRatings CEO Sharon Petersen added, “Due to ongoing supply chain challenges—particularly shortages of parts and skilled labour, it has become increasingly common to see some aircraft temporarily parked. We commend airlines that make this decision in the interest of safety, which must always come first. While these factors, along with those highlighted by Mr. Menon, help explain the grounding of aircraft, the sheer number currently parked in Indonesia is concerning. Given the country’s checkered history with aviation safety, this trend deserves close monitoring, though I’m encouraged to see that safety is clearly being prioritized over commercial pressure.”

Bloomberg also highlighted that broader economic conditions in Indonesia are exacerbating the issues facing airlines. Domestic airfare caps restrict revenue growth, while the weak rupiah has further strained finances, especially as many key expenses, such as aircraft leases and maintenance contracts, are denominated in U.S. dollars.

Indonesia’s airfare structure is shaped by government regulation and subsidy programs, particularly during peak travel periods like national holidays. While not all routes have formal price ceilings, the government has introduced measures such as fare subsidies that reduce ticket prices by 13–14%. These efforts aim to maintain affordable domestic travel but further constrain airline profitability.

We will continue to monitor the situation in Indonesia with significant focus on any impacts on passenger safety.