Indonesia’s Lion Air is to launch a joint venture airline with Malaysia's National Aerospace and Defence Industries, operating under the name Malindo Airways.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the new carrier will be based in Kuala Lumpur, initially serving routes up to four hours from the Malaysian capital, and connecting several Indonesian destinations with KL.
This would put Malindo Airways in competition with established Malaysian budget carrier Air Asia.
Flight Global reports that the carrier will offer a “hybrid product”, with a two-class economy and business class configuration, and in-flight entertainment and connectivity.
Last year Lion Air announced a commitment to purchase up to 380 B737 aircraft, in what would be a record for the largest commercial plane order for Boeing (see online news November 22, 2011).
For more information visit lionair.co.id.
Report by Mark Caswell
