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Lion waiting for govt OK on Australian routes
PT Lion Air, the airline which carries the greatest number of passengers in Indonesia, is waiting for government approval before it expands international flight service to Australia
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T Lion Air, the airline which carries the greatest number of passengers in Indonesia, is waiting for government approval before it expands international flight service to Australia.
The airline expects to launch an inaugural flight to Australia early next year, Lion Air spokesman Edward Sirait said.
After Lion Air receives government approval and completes administrative requirements, the company will determine which of its airplanes are suitable for Australian destinations, he added.
“We are still waiting for a destination that is available and feasible for us,” Edward said.
Edward declined to comment on reports which said that Lion Air was previously offered an opportunity to service Perth, Melbourne or Sydney.
“It will be easy to serve Perth because Lion has aircraft suited to the route. However we will have to find new planes if Lion flies to Melbourne or Sydney,” he said.
Lion’s plan to serve Australia will take advantage of the growing travel market in the Asia and Pacific region, he said.
“The market has improved after it was hit hard by the global economic crisis last year,” Edward said
Edward said that Lion Air was also interested in flying to other Asian countries, such as China, Thailand and India.
“I think China, Thailand and India are good markets for Lion Air. We can find airplanes to serve those countries,” he said.
Edward said that Lion would need to wait to realize the plan because obtaining local government approval to launch a new route takes time.
Lion Air currently serves four foreign countries: Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Vietnam.
Edward said that two Indonesian airlines, state flag carrier PT Garuda Indonesia and private carrier Air Asia, currently serve Australia.
