Wanna fly a 737-900ER in oz?

[apacau]

With tigers and maybe soon lions, what will be next?

Lion has a huge order of 739ERs - probably just working out where to fly them all. Anyone has any mail on who the "Australian company" is?

Lion Air eyes expansion into Australia and Thailand
Thursday, 10 January 2008

With the help of local carriers, Indonesian-based Lion Air will be expanding its operations into Australia and Thailand by 2014. The venture will create separate Lion Air Australia and Lion Air Thailand businesses.

"A cooperation agreement with an Australian company in which 49 percent of the shares are owned by Lion and 51 percent by the Australian side is now in the making. Lion will base six of its aircraft in Australia," Lion Air President Director Rusdi Kirana told ANTARA News this week.

Meanwhile, Lion Air will base four of its aircraft in Thailand for its Lion Air Thailand business.

According to the President Director, the carrier was drawn towards expanding into Australia and Thailand because it was relatively easier for foreign investors to obtain permits in these markets. Rusdi added that the expansion plan would prove that Indonesian airlines were also capable of operating internationally.

Source; E-travel blackboard

[dirty deeds]

Great, just what we need, another LCC in a market that is already starting to show signs of over-supply and another LCC to pay F^&k all to its employee's, just what we need!

[mention1]

Another big cat for Australian skies

Indonesian carrier Lion Air has today confirmed rumours that they’ll launch an Australian subsidiary, however the target date remains unknown.

Lion Air has 122 B737-900ERs on order, with six of the planes earmarked for the Australian start-up fleet.

Reports claim that Lion will acquire 49% of an undisclosed Australian company in order to kick off operations.

The inclusion of Lion Air, following Tiger's launch late last year, will put downward pressure on prices by adding further capacity.

Tiger Airways began in Australia with five aircraft.

The carrier also plans to deploy four aircraft to begin operations in the Thai market


Source, Travel Daily 10/1/08

[airtags]

Another LCC !!!........ is the market really big enough for more players (rhetorical statement not a question)

As long as the regulators all apply the same rules to FAOC holders and the margin on cost cutting doesnt become a margin call on safety.

Maybe one B. Byron might have do what he stated in his grab at the Safer Skies Conference last year.

BTW: Have those 73's running across the Bight to Perth worn out their dispensation not to carry rafts yet.............(also rhetorical)

[Torqueman]

Maybe Toll can help them out there.

[apacau]

News.com.au has picked up the story (interesting slant!) claiming they want to start flights this year?!

Any guesses on the Australian company? Ozjet perhaps?


Hawko's cut-price airline for Oz

AN airline which once celebrated its birthday with a mass circumcision for 1500 kids and boasts about being Jennifer Hawkins' one-time carrier is joining Australia's budget air wars – and it promises to give high prices the chop.

Indonesian budget carrier Lion Air confirmed it would make its international debut by picking up a 49 per cent stake in an unnamed Aussie firm. It aims to get six new Boeing 737-900ERs into the air this year - more than Tiger Airways' start-up fleet here.

The airline is also setting up a subsidiary in Thailand.

"The move would provide a further influx in capacity to already highly competitive domestic markets in Australia and Thailand. The travelling public would be the main winners from further downward pressure on fares, if Lion Air is successful in launching operations in both countries", Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation spokesman Derek Sadubin said.

Lion Air president Rusdi Kirana reportedly said it was the Australian firm which came to Lion and made a bid after learning of the carrier's expansion plans.

"The Australian firm and Lion have agreed on a merger with Lion controlling a 49 per cent stake but entitled the majority rights in the management," he said.

Lion Air was the official airline for Hawkins when she visited Indonesia as Miss Universe in 2004. Its website also reveals it held a mass circumcision for Jakarta kids that same year to celebrate its third birthday.

[Mr.Buzzy]

Its website also reveals it held a mass circumcision for Jakarta kids that same year to celebrate its third birthday.

Can't wait to see the interview process for this crowd!

bbbbbbbbbbzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzz

[constance]

From another website....(no link provided)

SkyAirWorld and Lion Air Joint Venture – Lion Air Australia

SkyAirWorld and Lion Air will form a new company, Lion Air Australia, introducing Boeing’s most recently certificated aircraft, the 737-900ER*, into Australia. With first flights expected in late 2008, SkyAirWorld will facilitate Lion Air Australia’s regulatory approval application.

Routes, Fares and Frequencies are under development, but Lion Air Australia will be a good-value carrier including business and premium economy seats.

SkyAirWorld CEO, David Charlton, “We are excited by the opportunity to be Lion Air’s Australian partner. Lion Air is an aviation leader in Asia and was the launch customer for the B737-900ER. SkyAirWorld has demonstrated the skills and capability to introduce technologically advanced aircraft to the Australian marketplace. Lion Air Australia’s route network is yet to be defined but we will be connecting points not currently serviced and creating a fantastic new offering for the travelling public. Lion Air Australia will offer a good value for money product for the holiday and business traveller, including connections between Australia and its most populous neighbour, Indonesia. Lion Air Australia has created great interest since the announcement of its inception by Rusdi Kirana, the CEO of Lion Air yesterday evening.”

The 737-900ER is a short-to-medium range twinjet that increases the capability of the Next-Generation 737 family. It was launched on July 18, 2005, with an order for 30 airplanes from Lion Air. The exterior dimensions of the new 737-900ER are identical to the 737-900. Aerodynamic and structural changes allow the 737-900ER to carry more passengers and fly farther than the 737-900. Entry into service occurred in early 2007.

Major Changes
An extra pair of exit doors, aft of the wings
A two-position tail skid
A flat rear pressure bulkhead
Wing strengthening changes
Enhancements to the leading and trailing edge flap systems
Up to two optional auxiliary fuel tanks
Optional Blended Winglets
Benefits
Carries 26 more passengers than the 737-900, up to 215 passengers in a single-class configuration
Flies about 500 nautical miles farther, up to 3,200 nm (5,925 km)
Weighs 9,550 pounds (4,340 kgs) less than the A321
Has lower operating costs than the A321; about 6 percent lower per trip, and 4 percent lower per seat.

[ACMS]

I hope they employ a good PR machine to overcome the doubt aussies have in Indonesian run airlines.

Can't wait for the spin on it.

[IAW]

Hmmm...OzJet couldn't make a go of RPT so changed to charter ops.

SkyAirWorld suck the big one at charter ops and instead want a piece of RPT.

EDIT: Constance, I take it that article is to appear in The Australian aviation section tomorrow?

EDIT2: Nevermind, I see it comes straight from www.skyairworld.com

[Eastwest Loco]

Oh no - Not another bloody LCC!!!

I will happily (sort of) book SLF on JQ DJ and at a push TT (which uses TT in Sabre but identifies as Air Lithuania - go figure) but I am afraid I will not book my clients on Lion if they do come in.

Indonesian LCC's are akin to chook lotto - If you draw the supplementary duck you are in trouble.

The safety record boasted by Lion is far from good.

2002: 732 writtien off on takeoff from Pekanbaru ID

2004: MD82 writeoff and 25 souls lost at Surakarta ID on landing ing unsupportable WX.

2006: 734 damaged in hard landing at Makassar ID.

2007: OCT - MD90 tail strike on departure.

2007: DEC - MD90 turbine cowl and tailpipe assembly remain in JKT after aeroplane departs.

A mate who is flying in Indo has advised me to avoid them. If a crew diverts, the first thing they hear on their mobile after they land is the CEO firing them. Hence the Surakarta overrun. Land or else - early Ansett ANA mindset we do NOT need to see again.

Jihad Air - stay where you are.

Incidently the PIC was blamed for that with insufficient reserves.

If the Government lets this lot in, then it should be mandatory transport for those who voted Labor!!!:ugh::sad:

The current imcumbents with their cost cutting and out sourcing can get into enough trouble without importing a 3rd world accident on its way somewhere to happen.

My 2 bobs worth anyway.

Best regards all

EWL

[constance]

Thanks IAW, I got the blurb from another forum but didn't have the link.

[airtags]

as I said earlier today before work - it will be a good test to see how B Byron & the regulators stand up and deliver on their own spin from the Canberra soiree late last year with ANY new players in australian skies - esp with some from Asia where their record is less than optimal ( and for that matter even with the current players)

All LCC's (and other airlines) must be scrutinized closely - and with so many LCC's reducing the crew pay and conditions, and performance factors such as min rest & fatigue, the regulators also need to be stringent in monitoring the performance of the crews and more importantly the integrity of the self reporting regime.

F'instance Jetstar should have had its AOC suspended after the poorly attempted cover up of the TO/GA issue in MEL which AJ & Co were more than a little deliberately slow to tell the teacher. (DJ has done the same with a 73 taking off with only 1 door armed.... and just to prove there is no bias, QF too kept quiet a 76 landing without the seatbelt sign on). (documents in possession for all incidents listed so no correspondence pls)

As for the approving pollies whose only aviation qualification is putting their bum in J class seat and downing a few glasses of quality inflight red - they should be made to split their travel between all operators....(gives 'pigs will fly' a whole new meaning eh!)

Reality will call upon the not-so-risk adverse operational models that skirt the regulatory environments and even more sadly, the price of their education will be paid by the unlucky onboard pax and their loved ones.

In the unfortunate event that reality calls before sanity, I can only hope His Honour does not hestitate to apportion the provisions of duty of care and responsibility of the Directors of the airline concerned.

Due diligence over dollars please.

[mr.airline]

If Lion air has "122 B737-900ERs on order," how many pilot jobs will this create in the future when all 122 a/c have been delivered?

[pilotdude09]

Funnily enough they are going to be a 'Premium' carrier offering Economy, Economy Plus and Business class.

Will be interesting aslong as they pay good wages and keep everyone happy and safe it will be okay otherwise they can fark right off back to Indonesia.

[Blue Ruin]

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/budget-indonesian-carrier-set-to-roar/2008/01/10/1199554832006.html

Budget Indonesian carrier set to roar
Scott Rochfort
January 11, 2008

AN INDONESIAN airline with a chequered safety record is looking to launch Australia's fourth low-cost domestic airline, a further challenge to Qantas-Jetstar and Virgin Blue's dominance of the local market.

The Jakarta-based Lion Mentari Airlines announced it has struck a deal to buy 49% of an unnamed Australian company and base six jets here.

The airline's founder, Rusdi Kirana, told the Indonesian news agency Antara that a co-operation agreement was in the works with an Australian company, with 49% of the shares held by Lion and 51% by the Australian side.

No date was given for the launch of Lion Australia, which, after Singapore Air's part-owned Tiger, could become the second Asian airline to operate domestic flights in Australia.

Established in 2000, Lion Air is the largest domestic carrier in Indonesia. It is under pressure to expand beyond its home market, given the huge 122-strong order it has for Boeing 737-900ERs, which will be too much for the Indonesian market to absorb.

Given that Lion Air does not need an Australian investor to launch domestic operations, it is possible it is looking to launch international flights from Australia.

It will be treated as an Australian carrier on international routes only if it is majority Australian owned.

It is rumoured that Lion Air is eyeing the lucrative market into Bali and other holiday markets in Asia.

The carrier, whose new fleet of 737-900ERs have 215 seats and the range to fly nearly 6000 kilometres, could easily service South-East Asian cities from each of the Australian capitals.

The biggest challenge Lion Air could have with Australian consumers is overcoming the poor safety reputation of Indonesian carriers.

Lion Air, which, along with all of Indonesia's airlines, is still on the European Union airline blacklist, has lost two jets in five years.

A Lion Air jet crashed in 2004, killing 25, and another Lion Air jet was written off after it crashed on take-off in 2002, with no fatalities.

The airline has also had serious incidents in late 2007, including the loss of a three-metre-long exhaust from a plane on a runway last month.

Lion Air's jets have 26 more seats than standard 737s used by Qantas and Virgin Blue, giving it a slight edge in aircraft operating costs.

It is not the first time that Lion Air has looked at establishing a presence in Australia. The 44-year-old Mr Rusdi registered the business in Perth in early 2005 before deregistering it a year later.

Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines is set to leapfrog Qantas as the biggest airline on the London route after announcing plans to add a fourth daily service into Sydney.

Buoyed by unprecedented demand for air travel out of Australia, the airline yesterday announced it would add an extra daily Boeing 777 service into Sydney from June.

The airline said it was "especially pleased with the increased demand for our Sydney services".

[Icarus2001]

Well it IS NOT a LCC...three class.

The unnamed Australian carrier is Skyairworld.

Australian base TBA, should be interesting. WA is the home of cheap Indonesian holidays. OzJet have cottoned on to this and are seeking an international RPT AOC.

[Cypher]

They're probably ordering 122 planes because they'll need that many for replacements for all the planes they'll ding... :{

[ZK-NSJ]

perth-auckland is within the 6000km, anyone for 6hrs+ in a 737

[moosp]

Fifty minute turnaround then fly back. It's legal the schedulers cry! :E

[Chimbu chuckles]

You couldn't drag me kicking and screaming.

[Yusef Danet]

As a 737NG driver, I would listen to LionAirWorld's offer. I wouldn't assume the Aus operation will have safety issues. Pilots and LAMEs here are a lot less susceptible to dangerous persuasion.

[Going Boeing]

Steve Creedy, Aviation writer | January 12, 2008

JETSTAR boss Alan Joyce is not losing any sleep over plans by Indonesia's Lion Air to start an Australian-based international carrier.

Alan Joyce says Jetstar 'won't be losing any sleep over new competition'
In fact, he believes the Qantas unit has several advantages over its new competitor. Jetstar's brand strength, reputation and first-mover advantage means it is well-placed to fend off challenges, he says.

"While it means the Australian carriers will have to be at the top of their game, we certainly won't be losing any sleep over it," Mr Joyce said yesterday.

The Indonesian carrier is setting up a joint venture with Brisbane-based SkyAirWorld that will see six Boeing 737-900ERs based in Australia and flying routes to Indonesia and other Southeast Asian destinations.

The new airline is to be called Lion Air Australia, with ownership split 51-49 per cent between SkyAirWorld and Lion Air.

It hopes to start flying later this year and eventually operate from multiple Australian ports. It is aiming to attract both business and leisure passengers, with a mix of business, premium economy and economy seats.

Lion Air plans to compete directly with Jetstar's moves to expand into Southeast Asian short-haul routes using A320s through Darwin and Perth.

And plans by Lion Air's Indonesian investor to start a joint venture in Thailand mean that four groups -- Jetstar/Qantas, Malaysia's Air Asia, Singapore's Tiger Airways and Lion Air -- are now pursuing a pan-Asian strategy involving Australia.

Mr Joyce said Jetstar expected to have aircraft based in Darwin or Perth by the end of the year.

He said Jetstar took every competitor seriously but that the Qantas Group had competed against Indonesian carriers before. "Even though (Lion Air Australia) may have an Australian air operators certificate, I think in people's minds they'll be perceived as in Indonesian carrier," he said.

"That will mean, particularly on international services, people will have choice between a Qantas group airline or an Indonesian carrier. And when(ever) that has happened in the past we've obviously done pretty well in market share. We think that will be the case here too."

Commenting on the rising number of airlines trying to establish networks across Asia, he said the experience in Europe suggested that some of the low-cost carriers now trying to establish pan-Asian operations would fail.

While he conceded there was a big population base in the region, he noted that only Ryanair and EasyJet had established pan-European networks despite a proliferation of low-cost carriers in Europe. It would be a question of who got a combination of factors right in Asia.

"It's not necessarily the lowest of low cost who will win," he said. "People want a reputation, they want a product. We're very competitive and we have the lowest cost base in Australia, but we also have that reputation behind us and financial support.

"And we have a solid four years of profitability behind us." :yuk:

Lion Air comes as Tiger Airways continues to expand its Australian domestic services. This week it added Adelaide to its network and is looking for a second hub, with speculation this may be the Gold Coast.

Tiger Airways plans to launch flights to Hobart and Newcastle from next week, with services to Alice Springs and Canberra following in coming months.

...... solid four years of profitability behind us, courtesy of our parent company's infrastructure support and accounting!

[Stationair8]

Put me down for a job, happy to pay for my own endorsements, meals, uniform just as long as I get the big jet job. Don't mind crappy roster that leave you fatigued.

[SOPS]

Stationair.....you need help..........................