Boeing 737-2M8 MSN 21955, Line Number 659 was initially delivered new April 24th 1980 to the UK's charter airline Orion Airways, registered G-BHCL, leased from TEA - Trans European Airways (Belgium).
The aircraft returned to TEA as OO-TEN January 23rd 1981. Brief wet-leases followed to Nigeria Airways (11/81 to 4/82) and Kabo Air (11/83 to 12/83).
April 20th 1984 the aircraft changed ownership to Phoenix, AZ based America West Airlines as N141AW. America West was ultimately a rare US deregulation success story, although unwise rapid expansion led to problems including service and maintenance issues and a trip through Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 1991. The airline persevered and in 2005 acquired US Airways , taking the latter's name. In 2013 US Airways acquired American Airlines, taking that airline's name, and becoming the world's largest airline.
N141AW was returned to it's lessor at the end of 1999, and was acquired August 10th 2000 by Westjet Airlines of Canada as C-FIWJ, a new and growing low cost carrier using the "Southwest model" of single class 737 only operations.
After three years with Westjet (the 'Airlines' in the name was dropped as of March 1st 2002), the aircraft was sold June 2nd 2005 to it's final operator Batavia (Indonesia) as PK-YTV. By the mid 2000s, with noise regulations in North America and Europe prohibiting second generation aircraft such as the DC-9 and 737-200, growing Indonesian airlines were hungrily adding 737-200s, where no such restrictions applied. The rugged characteristics and short field performance of the type was also attractive for operators in this region, as well as Africa.
The 30 year career of this aircraft came to a dignified end with retirement in October 2010, however it remains extant and preserved in the Puncak Area near Bogor, West Java. [Any pictures of the aircraft in retirement would be welcomed].
