Malaysia’s Malindo Air Part 1: network model emerges. Focus on international market expansion & KLIA

Lion Group Malaysian affiliate JV Malindo Air has accelerated expansion of its international network, adding three destinations in three new countries in recent weeks. Malindo now has 19 international destinations and is planning more rapid growth in 2016, including another two destinations over the next two months.

Malindo has focused entirely on international expansion in 2015 after mainly pursuing domestic growth in 2013 and 2014. Malindo's current domestic seat capacity is down 7% year over year while its international capacity is up 66%. Malindo carried nearly 4 million passengers in 2015, giving it about a 6% share of the total Malaysia market.

Less than three years after commencing operations the hybrid airline has become a relatively significant force in a market previously dominated by AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines, evolving from a point to point domestic operation to an international network airline.