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THE GLOBAL aviation industry, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, is entering a new era. Various breakthroughs are emerging to facilitate mobility and boost economic growth. Denon Prawiraatmadja, the current CEO and founder of Whitesky Group, is one of the architects of innovation in the air transportation sector heading into this new era.
Denon founded the company with a handful of passionate employees, aiming to transform mobility for the Indonesian people. Over time, Whitesky has grown into a multi-segment aviation business and launched “Helicity,” an innovative urban air mobility solution.
“We strive to build an aviation ecosystem, from charter flights to heliport and airport management,” Denon said, speaking on the sidelines of Heli Expo Asia (HEXIA) 2025 at Cengkareng Heliport.
He added that in 2020, the company opened Indonesia’s first commercial heliport. Two years later, Whitesky achieved another milestone by taking over operational control of Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport, one of the country’s key aviation hubs.
Through his strategic vision and tireless dedication, Denon has positioned Whitesky as not only an airline, but also a vital infrastructure provider, driving connectivity across Indonesia’s 17,000+ islands.
“The role of aviation is crucial to Indonesia’s development. The archipelagic nature of the country requires air connectivity to promote economic inclusion, social equality, and emergency response. Therefore, we hope that the private sector’s role in developing air transportation infrastructure will accelerate national economic growth,” he explained.
Denon, a figure known for his strategic vision in the aviation sector, highlighted the crucial role of President Prabowo Subianto’s policy in establishing the Coordinating Ministry for Infrastructure and Regional Development, led by Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY).
“President Prabowo’s decision to create a ministry dedicated to coordinating infrastructure development is a very appropriate step. Indonesia needs efficient, strategic infrastructure development to make the transportation industry, including aviation, more competitive globally,” he affirmed.
While attending the opening of Hexia 2025 and inaugurating Whitesky Aviation’s new Main Facility Building (MFB), AHY stated that Indonesia’s significant market and vital role in the growth and innovation of the helicopter industry are evident in the Asian-level helicopter industry.
“The aviation industry, particularly helicopters, has the potential to significantly impact business growth, the economy, and employment opportunities in the country. This is part of our efforts to strengthen the aviation and air transportation sectors. Hopefully, this will be good for our economic growth,” he stated.
AHY also stated that the increased use of helicopters for transportation will impact not only domestic economic growth, but also boost the potential for growth in Indonesia’s tourism sector.
“Many tourist destinations on various islands rely on air transportation, especially helicopters, to support the tourism sector. This extends to the tourism, business, and defense sectors,” AHY concluded. [traveltext.id]
