Airy Rooms was Indonesia’s answer to budget travel. Founded in 2015, it offered affordable hotel stays with standardized amenities. The startup grew rapidly, partnering with thousands of hotels. Travelers loved its simplicity and affordability. Airy became a household name for budget-conscious Indonesians. But the pandemic struck in 2020, devastating travel demand. Bookings collapsed, revenue dried up, and operations became unsustainable. Despite attempts to pivot, Airy shut down in May 2020. Its closure marked the end of a promising travel disruptor. Airy’s rise showed the power of solving local problems with tech. Its fall revealed the vulnerability of travel startups to global crises. Today, Airy is remembered as a victim of COVID-19’s economic shock. It remains a case study in how external forces can destroy even well-run businesses. Airy’s story highlights resilience, timing, and the unpredictability of global events.