Indonesian airlines have had a rough time over the last few years. There have been crashes and accusations of lax maintenance. This all culminated in the EU issuing a ban on all Indonesian airlines preventing them from flying to Europe (even though none of them did at the time). This drove a few airlines out of business or into mergers with larger rivals.
Those that were left had to clean up their act. The national carrier Garuda received international certification by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in mid-2008. The certification, called the International Operational Audit (IOSA), demonstrates that the airline has passed a thorough check on the quality and integrity of its maintenance and safety procedures.
Now comes word from Bali Discover that a second Indonesian carrier, Mandala, has also passed the certification. The news is especially significant since privately owned Mandala isn’t even a member of IATA. I haven’t had a chance to fly Mandala yet. I’m hoping to have the opportunity soon.