Indonesia Lion Air Expanding to Asia

VIVAnews – The European Union has banned Indonesia's private carrier PT Lion Air from flying to Europe as it is still on the European Union airline blacklist.  

According to General Director of PT Lion Air, Edward Sirait, the company has yet to set up both schedules and business expansion to European countries within the near future.  

“We are expanding to Asia, given its population of three billion,” he told VIVAnews on Monday, Feb 13. 

Edward said Lion Air currently focuses its market to such Asian countries as Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia. 

“Asia is a more promising market than Europe,” he said.

With the new aircrafts, Lion Air is planning to expand to other Asian countries such as China and India.  

“It is our target to make possible new routes to [China and India]," said Edward. 

Lion Air has ordered 230 aircrafts starting from 2017 until 2025.  These aircrafts are an addition to the 178 aircrafts ordered in 2007-2017.  In the procurement of these new aircrafts, Lion is financed by a US-based bank.