Lion Air Australia
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Founded | 2008 | ||||||
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Fleet size | 9 planned | ||||||
Parent company | Lion Air (49%) SkyAirWorld (51%) |
Lion Air Australia was a planned Australian domestic and international airline. After the collapse of its main proposed shareholder SkyAirWorld, the future of the Lion Air Australia is uncertain. There has been no new information about the proposed airline or its status since 2008.
Ownership and plans
Ownership of the airline was to be split 51% - 49% between Brisbane-based SkyAirWorld and Jakarta-based Lion Mentari Airlines. As a result of the partnership Lion Air Australia will have the same air traffic rights to operate as any other Australian-owned airline. SkyAirWorld was to assist with application for regulatory approvals in Australia. Even though it was to be majority owned by SkyAirWorld, Lion Air president Rusdi Kirana was reported as saying that his company would be the operator and control the business.[1]
Initially it will operate with a fleet of six Boeing 737-900ERs, flying domestic routes as well as to Indonesia and other Southeast Asian destinations. The airline anticipated its maiden flight by the end of 2008, but as of January 2014 operations had not commenced. If Lion Air Australia starts operating it would be the fourth low-cost domestic airline in the Australian market.[2] It will differ somewhat from other Australian budget airlines; offering business, premium economy and economy seats.
In a statement on 10 January 2008 announcing the creation of the Lion Air Australia joint venture, both partners noted that routes, fares and frequencies were still being developed.
Now however, it appears unlikely that the plan will go ahead after the collapse of SkyairWorld in 2010 and there are still no current announcements of any new business partners to take SkyairWorld's place. [3]
Not long after the massive expansion of Lion Air committed to the rest of Asia. Lion Air Lion Air's planned re-making of Australia with Aussie Batik change its name and in the absence of cooperation in the making of this company. Lion Air will be the 100% shareholder of the company Aussie Batik.
Safety
Some Australian newspaper reports have been critical of Lion Air's safety record and speculated that Lion Air Australia could have a challenge in overcoming Australian consumers' concerns at the poor safety reputation of Indonesian carriers.[2] Lion Air, along with all but four of Indonesia's airlines, is still on the European Union airline blacklist, having lost two aircraft in five years.[2] The blacklisting means that there are bans in place on international flights to both the United States and European Union. Some media report that Lion Air's alliance with SkyAirWorld is only a move to bypass the bans.
References
- ^ Hawko's cut-price airline for Oz - NEWS.com.au, Australia
- ^ a b c Budget Indonesian carrier set to roar retrieved 2008-01-12.
- ^ Lion Air will go Sky high retrieved 2008-01-12.