Lion Group 2016 fleet analysis: slower growth following 737 cancellations & increased focus on FSCs

Lion Group significantly slowed its rate of expansion in 2016 and cancelled 21 Boeing 737 orders. The Indonesia-based airline group took 36 aircraft in 2016 compared to 57 aircraft in 2015, as the rate of 737 deliveries was slashed in half from an average of two per month to one per month.

Most of the growth in 2016 was at Lion Group's two full service airlines, Indonesia's Batik Air and Malaysia's Malindo Air. Malindo expanded its fleet by a staggering 15 aircraft, for a total of 42, making it one of the fastest-growing airlines in the world. Batik expanded its fleet by eight aircraft in 2016, for a total of 41.

The rate of expansion slowed at all three of Lion Group's low cost airlines - Lion Air, Thai Lion Air and the turboprop operator Wings Air. The fleet at the main Lion Air brand only expanded by three aircraft, while Wings added four turboprops. The group's JV in Thailand added six aircraft, which was fewer aircraft than initially planned.