Eka and Mira

The history of PO Eka and Mira is inseparable from the existence of the earlier Flores bus company. The company's roots began with a textile shop called Flores, located at Jalan Mojopahit No. 188, Mojokerto City. The shop's owner, Fendi Harianto, saw a business opportunity in the land transportation sector as the mobility needs of the people of East Java increased in the late 1960s to early 1970s. From this textile trading background, the idea was born to pioneer an intercity bus transportation business.^[1] Harianto's sister, Ratna Candrawati, owns PO Jaya Utama Indo which specializes in the Surabaya–Semarang route.^[2]

In 1971, Harianto officially founded a bus company under the name Flores, taken from the name of his textile shop. The name was later associated with Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara, despite having no direct geographical connection. In its initial stages, PO Flores served the Surabaya–Solo round-trip route and offered a tour bus service. Flores' presence made it a significant new player in the bus transportation industry in East Java at that time.^[1]

In addition to operating PO Flores, Harianto also founded another bus company, Surya Agung. This operator focused on serving intercity routes within the province (AKDP), specifically the Malang–Surabaya–Ponorogo and Malang–Surabaya–Magetan routes. Surya Agung and Flores grew in the same era as a number of legendary East Java bus companies such as Maju Mapan, Sumber Kencono, Surya Jaya, Rukun Makmur, and Adi Jaya, which at that time were competing fiercely to capture the passenger market.^[3][4]

The nature of bus passengers in East Java, who tend to prioritize travel speed, has also shaped the operational strategy of PO Flores. Flores buses are known for their relatively fast travel speeds compared to their competitors, a characteristic that makes them popular with passengers despite the higher traffic safety risks. This strategy brought Flores to the pinnacle of success and made it a major name on the Surabaya–Surabaya–Solo route and beyond. ^[1]

However, this golden age was marred by a major tragedy. On May 7, 1981, a Flores bus carrying a group of students from Wijana Catholic Junior High School, Jombang, for a field trip to Kebumen Regency had a fatal accident at a railway crossing near Purwosari Station, Solo. The bus was hit by a Solo High Speed ​​train on the Pasar Senen Station–Solo Balapan Station route due to the negligence of the bus driver who did not pay attention to safety at the level crossing. The accident killed 31 people and caused 22 others to be treated at Mangkubumen Hospital, Solo. This incident was one of the most tragic bus accidents of its time and had a major impact on the reputation of PO Flores. The PJKA suffered material losses of around Rp. 5 million (value at that time), and PO Flores was found guilty of the incident, which then triggered heavy sanctions from the government.^[5][6]

As a consequence of the accident, the Central Java Provincial Traffic and Highway Transportation Agency (DLLAJR) issued a ban on PO Flores from serving routes to Central Java. As a result, Flores' routes were significantly reduced, and only permitted to serve the Surabaya–Mantingan, Ngawi route. These restrictions caused Flores to lose its main market and further derail its operations.^[3]

After the 1981 incident, PO Flores entered a difficult period. One of the biggest problems was declining passenger confidence, primarily due to concerns about the practice of transferring passengers mid-trip. This situation prompted many customers to switch to other bus companies. In response to this situation, Fendi Harianto took a strategic step by launching two new brands, Eka and Mira, each named after his biological children.^[3][7]

Initially, Eka and Mira buses served the same routes as Flores, but with a clearly defined schedule. Eka buses depart from Surabaya in the morning until the afternoon, while Mira buses operate from the afternoon until the morning. Meanwhile, PO Flores itself has undergone a change in role and only serves the AKDP Surabaya–Ponorogo round-trip route, marking a significant decline from its former glory.^[4]

Entering 1990, Eka and Mira expanded their operational reach by opening a round-trip route between Surabaya–Yogyakarta . This expansion showed the company's revival after the crisis following the Flores accident.^[1] In 1992, Harianto made a major decision by selling the old fleet belonging to PO Flores and Surya Agung along with their brands. This step was taken to rejuvenate the Eka and Mira fleets so that they could compete in terms of quality and comfort.^[4] To replace Flores, the company then launched a new brand called Ita in 1993. The Ita bus served the Surabaya–Ponorogo route, but did not last long due to the monetary crisis in the late 1990s, so the route was sold to PO Restu.^[8]

Entering the modern era, around 2007, Eka and Mira management restructured their services. Eka's economy class bus fleet was eliminated, and Eka focused on providing non-economy express services, while economy services operated entirely under the Mira brand. This division makes it easier for passengers to differentiate service segments.^[9] The peak of public recognition for Eka occurred on November 15, 2025, when redBus awarded PO Eka the People’s Choice Award in the Favorite Large Java AKAP category, marking the long success of the transformation from Flores to Eka and Mira.^[10] Currently, the leadership of Eka and Mira is held by Harianto's son, Eka Hermawan.^[11]

In terms of bus fleet and chassis, Eka and Mira are widely known as bus companies that have long relied on Hino products from various generations. This choice is based on several operational considerations, ranging from fuel efficiency, vehicle durability, to relatively economical maintenance costs. Hino chassis are considered capable of supporting the operational needs of intercity bus, which demand high reliability in various road conditions. The latest generation used is the Hino RM 280, which is the backbone of their modern fleet. ^[12] In addition, the selection of the type The chassis is also tailored to the service segment: for the Regular Fare AC service operated by the Mira brand, large front-engine buses are used, while for the Patas or Fast service under the Eka brand, rear-engine buses are used, which are considered more comfortable and powerful for long-distance travel. This approach demonstrates the company's understanding of market needs and its strategy to maximize operational efficiency and profitability.^[11][7]

Meanwhile, in terms of bodywork, PO Eka and Mira are known as flexible companies and are not fixated on a particular manufacturer. Both often use bodies from various well-known national bodywork companies, such as Laksana, Morodadi Prima, Karoseri Tentrem, and Adi Putro, according to design trends, fleet needs, and market preferences at the time. This flexibility makes the appearance of Eka and Mira's fleet quite diverse from time to time.^[7] In the 1990s, both POs were also known to order many bodies made by Malindo, which was popular at that time and was considered to represent the development of modern bus design in Indonesia. This diversity of bodywork options is one of the hallmarks of PO Eka and Mira, and reflects their ability to adapt to the dynamics of the national land transportation industry.^[1]

PO Eka and Mira are bus companies that operate daily and play a vital role in intercity and interprovincial (AKAP) transportation services, particularly on the island of Java. Both compete directly in a duopoly pattern with Sumber Group to serve strategic routes connecting the West Java region^[a], Central Java, Special Region of Yogyakarta, to East Java. This daily operational consistency makes Eka and Mira the main choice for people who need long-distance land transportation with a relatively dense and even departure schedule. The presence of two brands within one group also allows for clearer market segmentation, allowing each service to reach different passenger characteristics while remaining within the same route corridor.^[7]

In operating intercity and regional (AKAP) routes, Eka positions itself as a provider of non-economy class services, such as Cepat, Patas, and Executive, with a focus on comfort and comprehensive facilities. Eka's bus fleet is equipped with air conditioning (AC), television, audio system, reclining seats with a 2-2 configuration, pillows, Wi-Fi service, and toilet inside the bus.^[7][13] To add to the comfort of long-distance travel, all passengers also get free drinking water and the facility to stop for a meal at the Duta Ngawi Restaurant or at the rest area km 575 Solo–Ngawi Toll Road.^[14] On the other hand, Mira has served the regular fare AC economy segment (ATB) since 2007, with simpler facilities but still prioritizing basic comfort, such as AC, audio systems, and 3-2 seat configurations, so that it can reach passengers with more affordable transportation needs.^[7][14]

On March 21, 2025, PO Eka officially expanded its operational reach by opening a new route connecting Jember, East Java, to Tasikmalaya, West Java with Prime class service.^[15] This service connects the eastern tip of Java Island to the East Priangan region via the southern and central routes. The cities crossed include Lumajang, Probolinggo, Surabaya, Solo, Klaten, Yogyakarta, Wates, Purworejo, Kebumen, Wangon, Majenang, Banjar Patroman, and Ciamis. Travel from both directions already uses the Trans-Java Toll Road access. As the highest class of service (Prime Class), passengers receive various amenities to support long-distance comfort, including:

• Seat Configuration: 2-2 seating with ample legroom.
• Comfort: Reclining seats, leg rests, and pillows and blankets.
• Consumption: Dining service (isoma) is available at Duta Resto Restaurant, KM 575 of the Solo-Ngawi Toll Road (Routes A and B). Passengers also receive a snack box.
• Technology: USB chargers at each seat and an audio-visual entertainment system.
• Other: Toilet facilities are available on board the fleet specifically for use during the bus's journey.

In addition to focusing on intercity and regional (AKAP) route services, Eka also develops non-route business through the operation of tour bus. This division is aimed at meeting the needs of tourist travel, both for groups and thematic tours within the city. One of the flagship services offered is the "Jelajah Surabaya" tour package, designed to take tourists to experience various iconic and prominent destinations in Surabaya, such as the Suramadu Bridge, the Heroes Monument, and a number of other important tourist attractions. The presence of this tour bus service demonstrates PO Eka's efforts to diversify its business, while expanding its role beyond just providing intercity transportation to become part of the regional tourism industry.