Lion Air to expand network by mid-2010 to Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai and Tokyo

Lion Air stated it plans to expand its international network by mid-2010, with the carrier considering services to Incheon, Beijing, Shanghai and Tokyo (Jakarta Globe, 07-Dec-2009). The carrier added that China would be the airline's main target, focusing on the leisure segment. Services to Japan and South Korea would be targeted more at business travellers. Lion Air stated negotiations with prospective partners have already been initiated.

Lion Air: "We're currently studying a plan to expand into East Asia carefully. It should be finalised by June or July next year. We would establish several new flights to the region after we get the traffic rights… China's potential is massive because it has one of the fastest rates of economic growth in the world, as well as a huge population," Edward Sirait, GM. Source: Jakarta Globe, 07-Dec-2009.