Lion Air group has said that it had previously requested payment deferral through a letter to state-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I.

The airline made the statement following rumors that the group had been struggling to pull through its finances, forcing it to postpone airport services payment.

"The postponement is for January, February and March," Lion Air Group strategic communication officer Danang Mandala Prihantoro told tempo.com on Monday.

Danang ensured that the group would fulfill its payment starting from April within the "normal scheme" that other airlines followed.

Lion Group has to pay for airplane parking, luggage handling systems, check-in counters and aviobridge. 

As quoted by an unnamed source through tempo.com, Angkasa Pura I has already received the letter from the airline. (mai)