Summary TransNusa relaunched in 2022 after ceasing operations during COVID, offering a smooth and efficient travel experience in Indonesia. The onboard experience on Airbus A320-200 was positive, with ample storage, friendly crew, and on-time departure, making the trip excellent. Jakarta's Terminal 3 impressed with modern amenities and short queues, providing a comfortable journey for passengers.
TransNusa is an Indonesian airline that first launched almost 20 years ago. The carrier ceased operations during the COVID pandemic but rose from the ashes to relaunch in 2022. Simple Flying readers may recognize the airline as the only non-Chinese operator of a COMAC aircraft, the ARJ21 .
While I wasn't able to experience the China-made plane first-hand, I wanted to document my experience of traveling domestically in Indonesia, which is the second-fastest growing aviation market in the world (behind China). Here's how my trip with TransNusa went. Check-in at Jakarta Terminal 3 Flight: Jakarta (CGK) to Bali (DPS) Cabin: Economy Timings : 19:50 departure, 22:50 arrival Duration: Two hours I arrived at Jakarta's Soekarno–Hatta International Airport (CGK) just after 18:00 local time.
My flight was out of the airport's newest terminal, Terminal 3, also known as 'Terminal 3 Ultimate', and my immediate impression upon arriving was of a clean, modern and efficient airport. The queue at the check-in counters was short, so I waited just a few minutes before being served. My economy fare permitted carry-on baggage (7 kg) plus one item of checked baggage (20 kg), and I opted to take my small suitcase onboard as cabin baggage.
Fortunately, my randomly allocated seat was in the emergency exit row and its coveted extra legroom. From the check-in counter, it was a short walk through to the security checkpoint which was virtually empty, so I breezed through. Inside the terminal Just beyond security, there are a few artisan shops selling traditional Indonesian goods before an escalator takes you down to the main level.
On the main floor, I was greeted with a surprising number of mid-to-high-end brands for a domestic connection - however, after discovering that Terminal 3 was the main terminal for flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, it made more sense. In fact, I wish I'd arrived a little earlier to have enough time to browse the shops. Instead, knowing I probably had less than an hour until boarding time, I settled in at a restaurant to get some dinner.
At this hour (around 18:30 local time), the terminal was quiet and a few food outlets seemed closed - but there were still plenty of options, including fast food, Western-style cafés and full-service restaurants. The boarding process After finishing my meal, I had to make my way to the end of the terminal at Gate 26. It was a bit of a walk to reach the gate, but aided by travelators and electronic signs displaying an estimate of how many minutes left until you reach your gate.
I made it to mine in 10 minutes, passing by a decent range of eateries, shops and amenities, including a dedicated gaming zone. There was, unfortunately, no time to challenge a local to a game of FIFA as my flight was already boarding - I was grouped in Boarding Zone B and arrived right on time, with embarkation already underway. The queue progressed quickly, and I made my way through the jet bridge to board the aircraft.
The bird today was an Airbus A320-200, one of four in the TransNusa fleet, which seats 174 passengers in economy. Interestingly, all four of its A320s began life with now-defunct German airline Air Berlin before spending over a decade at Chinese carrier Chengdu Airlines. The onboard experience With the zoned boarding process, I made it to my seat quickly without hanging around in the aisle for passengers in front to stow their baggage.
While not a major gripe of the travel experience, it is nice to get to your seat without delay. As mentioned, I continued my lucky streak of snagging an exit row seat (12C), and the middle seat was also empty - great success! There was enough overhead space for both my suitcase and backpack (exit row passengers aren't allowed baggage by their feet during takeoff and landing), so I settled in for the ride. The seat was perfectly fine, and I got that extra bit of legroom, so I was sitting comfortably - for the record, I tried out a regular seat and (at 6 ft 1") there was enough legroom for me.
The flight was scheduled to depart at 19:50 and ended up taking off at 20:04, so technically, it qualified as an 'on-time' departure. Clocking in at under two hours, the flight passed by smoothly and the cabin was kept dimmed for most of the trip. TransNusa cabin crew passed through taking orders from the in-flight menu, which consists of essentials like coffee, tea, juices, sodas and a selection of snacks.
Prices are pretty cheap too, with a 330ml bottle of water priced at $0.62 or a pack of peanuts at under $1. We had a textbook landing (I think I heard someone at the back clap) and passengers were let off the plane via jet bridge into Bali's domestic terminal.
From here, it was around a five-minute walk to reach the baggage claim area next to the terminal exit. The flight ended up landing 10 minutes earlier than its scheduled 22:50 arrival. If you are flying to Bali, be wary of taxi or rideshare touts clamoring for your attention when you arrive.
Pre-book an airport transfer or go through rideshare apps, like Gojek or Grab, which have official stands and staff who will help you. Overall verdict: Excellent Smooth pre-departure and boarding experience Jakarta's Terminal 3 was very good Comfortable exit row seat On-time departure and early arrival Ample overhead storage and friendly cabin crew Speedy disembarkation Having enjoyed several efficient journeys around Asia and Europe in the post-pandemic era, TransNusa was no exception. In fact, given the short queues at the airport, the exit row seat, and the swift disembarkation after landing, I'd say it was even better than usual.
Jakarta's Terminal 3 is also quality, and somewhere I'd happily spend a few hours hanging around before a flight. My TransNusa flight was competitively priced, so overall, I'd rate the trip as a certified Excellent . Next up on the to-do list: a journey on the COMAC ARJ21, which you won't find anywhere else outside of China except at TransNusa.
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