Lion’s Malindo Air to compete vs AirAsia, Jetstar & Tigerair on world’s top international LCC route

Lion Group Malaysian affiliate Malindo Air is planning to launch services on 3-Nov-2014 to Singapore, which will become the hybrid carrier's 10th international destination from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Malindo will be the fourth LCC on the KLIA-Singapore route, which will become the largest international LCC route in the world based on seat capacity.

Lion will join Asia's other three main LCC groups - AirAsia, Jetstar and Tigerair - in competing in the busy Singapore-Kuala Lumpur market. While Malindo may find the local market challenging, particularly from a Singapore point of sales perspective given its unfamiliar brand, the carrier will also offer connections passengers beyond Kuala Lumpur with a focus on South Asia.

Kuala Lumpur-Singapore will be Malindo's first destination with 162-seat 737-800s. Malindo is taking two 737-800s in 4Q2014, supplementing its existing jet fleet of six 180-seat 737-900ERs. The 737-800s will also be used to launch service to Bandung in Indonesia and to add a second daily flight to Bangkok.