The 3 Best Low-Cost Airlines in Indonesia, According to Passengers
Out of all the low-cost airlines, only these three stand out with extra points.
Quoting from the book Orang Laut Bajak Laut Raja Laut by historian Adrian B. Lapian, Indonesia is an archipelago where islands are surrounded by oceans. With such a geographical position, Indonesia needs airplanes as a fast and efficient mode of transportation. Unfortunately, airplane ticket prices in Indonesia are much more expensive compared to other countries like Malaysia and Thailand.
Because of this, people in Indonesia need strategies to travel by plane, one of which is by choosing LCC (Low-Cost Carrier) airlines — budget-friendly airlines that sell cheaper tickets compared to full-service carriers.
In Indonesia, there are several LCCs that operate routes even to remote areas. Coincidentally, I’ve flown with all the LCCs in the country, and each has its pros and cons. However, if I had to choose, here’s my ranking of the best LCCs based on my experience as a frequent domestic traveler in Indonesia.
#1 Pelita Air: The Most On-Time Airline in Indonesia Last Year
In first place, the best LCC according to me is Pelita Air. In 2024, this airline, with its colorful logo, was named the most punctual airline in Indonesia — even beating Garuda Indonesia when it comes to timeliness. While Pelita Air isn’t 100% on time and sometimes experiences delays, the waiting time is still reasonable, usually around 10 minutes.
Although Pelita Air uses the same type of aircraft as other LCCs, the Airbus A320, the space between seats feels more spacious, making it comfortable for stretching your legs. Not only that, Pelita Air is the only LCC whose seats come with headrests — a feature typically found only in full-service airlines like Garuda Indonesia.
Additionally, I feel that Pelita Air pilots have good flying experience. This is evident in their smooth landings (you barely feel any harsh bumps in your seat).
Another important point that makes Pelita Air deserving of the title as the best LCC in Indonesia — and worth trying — is that they’re not stingy. Even though their fares are similar to other LCCs, Pelita Air provides free bread and bottled water to passengers. And the bread is tasty too! What other LCC gives out bread? You won’t even get free water if you’re thirsty on other budget airlines.
But perfection belongs only to God. Despite Pelita Air’s satisfying service, the airline does have one drawback: its routes are still very limited.
#2 Citilink: Great for Passengers Who Want Full-Service Quality on a Budget
In second place, I rank Citilink as a budget airline with service quality that doesn’t feel cheap. I’ve missed several Citilink flights from Surabaya to Jakarta, but honestly, that’s my fault for being late, not theirs. This actually highlights how punctual Citilink is.
Moreover, Citilink’s treatment of passengers during flight delays is better than other LCCs. They provide snacks or meals to passengers during delays, following applicable regulations. Additionally, I find Citilink to be honest.
This green-themed airline never forces passengers to board early and wait for hours just to avoid delay records (something often done by another airline with a lion logo). From my experience, aside from weather-related issues, once passengers are onboard and everything is ready, the plane takes off promptly.
Citilink also operates many routes, including to remote islands, without compromising service quality. I didn’t notice any difference in service whether flying on an Airbus or an ATR-42. Another plus point: Citilink’s cabin crew is friendly and attentive. They even go the extra mile by creating daily rhymes to entertain passengers!
Oh, and Citilink’s web check-in is the simplest and rarely encounters errors. Few people might notice this, but in Indonesia, Citilink pioneered hassle-free online ticketing and self-print boarding passes at airport kiosks.
If you want service close to what Garuda Indonesia offers but have a tight budget, try Citilink.
#3 AirAsia: World’s Best LCC According to Skytrax
In third place is AirAsia Indonesia. Although I experienced a delay with AirAsia on a flight from Surabaya to Malaysia, I’ve never encountered delays on domestic routes.
Another thing I like about AirAsia, aside from rarely being delayed, is that their cabins are always clean and look almost new. Not all AirAsia planes are new, but most are well-maintained and give passengers a sense of security. Unlike Super Air Jet, whose older planes often show wear and tear, especially on windowpanes that appear streaked.
AirAsia also offers excellent service. Their cabin crew is helpful, neatly dressed, and exudes freshness. It’s no surprise that AirAsia has been awarded the world’s best LCC by Skytrax for three consecutive years. Their service is indeed quite satisfying.
I placed AirAsia in third place not because their service is inferior but because of ticket prices. For domestic flights, their fares are slightly higher than Citilink and Pelita Air. Additionally, in terms of route coverage, AirAsia still lags behind Citilink.
Only the three airlines above truly deserve special attention when choosing an LCC. Other LCCs like Lion Air, Super Air Jet, and Wings Air offer similar levels of service and fleets since they belong to the same group. Meanwhile, airlines like Sriwijaya, NAM Air, and TransNusa don’t have standout features worthy of being categorized as the best in Indonesia.
While this ranking may seem subjective, I believe these three airlines remain the best among other LCCs. Don’t mention Batik Air — it’s not an LCC.
Translated from Mojok.co — 3 Maskapai LCC Paling Bagus di Indonesia Versi Penumpang
