Access selected deals available with budget and full-service airlines
Lock any airfare that sounds great. You don’t lose anything if you cancel it
Call us anytime for any assistance. We do not go into hibernation
Your personal and financial information stays secure with us
PT Lion Mentari Airlines, operating as Lion Air, is Indonesia’s largest low-cost carrier, headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia. Founded in 1999 and commencing operations on June 30, 2000, Lion Air is a subsidiary of PT Langit Esa Oktagon (LEO Group) within the broader Lion Air Group, which includes Wings Air, Batik Air, Super Air Jet, Thai Lion Air, and Batik Air Malaysia. Operating from its primary hub at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) and secondary hubs at Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) in Bali and Juanda International Airport (SUB) in Surabaya, Lion Air serves over 70 destinations, primarily domestic routes across Indonesia’s 17,000 islands, with select international flights to Singapore, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and China. Known for its slogan “We Make People Fly,” Lion Air carried 36.8 million passengers in 2018, capturing nearly 35% of Indonesia’s domestic air travel market. Despite its rapid growth and expansive network, the airline has faced criticism for safety lapses, operational issues, and customer service challenges, including the 2018 Lion Air Flight 610 crash.
Lion Air was established on November 15, 1999, by brothers Rusdi and Kusnan Kirana, with its first flight from Jakarta to Surabaya on June 30, 2000, using a leased Boeing 737-200. Rapid expansion followed, driven by Indonesia’s growing aviation market, projected by IATA to be the world’s fourth-largest by 2037. By 2003, Lion Air launched Wings Air for regional routes and, in 2012, introduced Batik Air as a full-service competitor to Garuda Indonesia. International expansion began in 2008 with Singapore and Malaysia routes, followed by Saudi Arabia and China. The 2013 order for 234 Airbus A320s and 201 Boeing 737 MAXs marked one of the largest aircraft deals globally, though the 2018 Flight 610 crash (Boeing 737 MAX 8) led to a temporary grounding of MAX aircraft and a $22 million fine for Boeing in 2021. Despite setbacks, Lion Air resumed MAX operations in 2022 and expanded Hajj services to 35 global embarkations in 2024.
Lion Air operates over 1,200 weekly flights to more than 70 destinations, focusing on domestic connectivity across Indonesia’s 17,000 islands, from major cities like Jakarta, Surabaya, and Denpasar to remote areas like Labuan Bajo and Raja Ampat. International routes include Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jeddah, Medina, and Guangzhou, with seasonal Hajj flights to Almaty, Tashkent, Dhaka, Nairobi, and Lagos. Codeshares with Batik Air and Thai Lion Air enhance regional connectivity, competing with AirAsia and Garuda Indonesia’s Citilink. Cargo services, via Lion Parcel, utilize Boeing 737-900ERs for inter-island logistics, supporting small businesses in areas like Asmat and Namlea. The airline’s 2024 on-time performance (OTP) averaged 95% for Hajj flights, reflecting operational focus, though domestic flights often face delays.