Former colonial aviation operations revived under Indonesian management
JAKARTA, 1952 — A new chapter in Indonesian civil aviation began this week with the establishment of **RNL airways**, a new passenger airline formed from the remaining commercial aviation activities and infrastructure of the former *Koninklijke Nederlandsch-Indische Luchtvaartmaatschappij* (KNILM).
The new company has announced an ambitious objective: to restore regular air connections between **Jakarta, formerly Batavia, and the many islands of the Indonesian archipelago**.
RNL airways will initially operate a fleet of **Douglas DC-3 piston aircraft**. Company officials stated that technical limitations and the difficult post-war conditions have made the acquisition and operation of more modern aircraft impossible for the time being. The reliable DC-3, however, is considered well suited to the present requirements of Indonesian aviation.
The new airline inherits a tradition dating back to the establishment of the KNILM in 1928. The former airline once operated an extensive network from Batavia to cities across Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan and the eastern islands. Its early fleet included Fokker aircraft, while the Douglas DC-3 later became an important part of its operations.
According to RNL airways management, the new company will initially concentrate on rebuilding domestic and regional services. Jakarta will serve as the principal centre of operations, with routes planned to connect the capital with major cities throughout the archipelago.
"Indonesia is a nation of thousands of islands, and these islands must not remain isolated from one another," a company representative stated at the announcement. "Our purpose is to restore the air routes that once connected the archipelago and to build an Indonesian airline for the future."
Although the first RNL aircraft may be modest compared with the larger aircraft of international carriers, the company views its DC-3 fleet as a temporary but essential step toward a modern national air transport network.
With the establishment of RNL airways, the skies over Indonesia are once again expected to become busy with scheduled passenger services — this time under a new Indonesian identity.
Have fun there.