Bali's Air Paradise to Fly No More
Government Revokes Air Operating License of Long-Grounded Air Paradise.
(2/3/2008) The inclusion of the name of PT Air Paradise Indonesia in a list of airlines whose operating licenses have been withdrawn by the Government due to prolonged non-operations may spell the final epitaph in the heroic efforts of a Balinese businessman to create a Bali-based international airline.
The colorful and charismatic Balinese businessman Kadek Wiranatha commenced operation of the airline in February 2003, just months after the devastating Bali bombing of October 2002.
Initially operating service to Perth, Western Australia - the Airline at its peak operated 4 leased wide-body aircraft flying between five cities in Australia and Bali carrying an average 20,000 Australian tourists to Bali every month. In addition, the Airline also operated services to South Korea and Japan.
Passionate in his desire to assist in the recovery of Bali's tourism industry, Kadek Wiranatha and his Airline played a key role in Bali's rapid recovery from the 2002 terrorist attack and in bringing Australian visitor back to the island in record numbers.
Hemorrhaging cash after the second Bali bombing attack in October 2005, Air Paradise was compelled to suddenly cease operations in November of that year.
Subsequent efforts to secure government support, new investors and chartered aircraft over the past two years came to naught with the recent revocation of its air operating license, now making the Bali-based airline's resurrection a virtual impossibility.