ADDitional BIG orders from lion
Indonesia's Lion Air has inked an order for 27 ATR 72-600s, in a deal worth $610 million, for its regional subsidiary Wings Air.
The aircraft, to be delivered by 2015, will make Wings Air the largest ATR operator worldwide.
With the new order, the carrier will have a fleet of 60 turboprops, consisting of 20 ATR 72-500s and 40 ATR 72-600s.
Financing for the aircraft has been guaranteed and Lion Air expects to receive its first -600 in November, said its president director Rusdi Kirana, at the Singapore Airshow.
Wings Air has another 17 ATR aircraft undelivered from earlier orders.
The 44 turboprops to be delivered to Wings Air will develop new routes departing mainly from Sumatera, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Papua islands. Some of the aircraft will also replace and complement Wings Air's MD-80s and Lion Air's Boeing 737s operating from these airports.
AND....
After the huge order signed on Tuesday at the show for up to 380 Boeing 737s, Lion Air boss Rusdi Kirana had his cheque book out again on Wednesday. But this time the order was of a different magnitude, as the Indonesian low-cost carrier signed up with Hawker Beechcraft for two Hawker 900XPs and took options for two more.
Lion Air plans to use the aircraft to meet the growing demand for charter services throughout the region, said Kirana. "We'll take the first in May and the second in September. They will be operated by our charter division and offered to customers on a shared ownership basis."
Dan Keady, HBC vice president, Asia Pacific and India, said: "We're proud that the Hawker 900XP is Lion Air's selection to support the airline as it branches out into charter services."
MAYBE....
Indonesia's Lion Air is in discussions with Boeing and Airbus to decide on a widebody aircraft for the launch of its long-haul full-service operations in 2014 or 2015.
The carrier is deciding between either 10 Boeing 787-8s or Airbus A330s.....
Flightglobal...
UPDATES to come...