Up to 2016, these two giant low-cost carriers (LCC) groups in Southeast Asia, AirAsia and LionAir remain as two dominating forces in the aviation industry.
Both have brought low fares to the region, stimulating demand in an emerging market with a fast-growing middle class. Each now accounts for about 15% of total seat capacity in Southeast Asia - an unthinkable figure a decade ago.
Until today, both entities have achieved remarkable achievements, excellences and still continue to flourish and persist in becoming the market leaders in the region.
Seasia would want to bring you to the facts that you might or might not aware about these two airlines, which could be surprising as well as certainly be making us proud to be part their business and history, now and then.
Here are 10 trivia and fun facts about both AirAsia and LionAir:
AirAsia - Now Everyone Can Fly
1. Based at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2), this carrier led by AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes pioneered the cross-border joint venture in Asia, establishing Thai and Indonesian units with bases in Bangkok and Jakarta.
2. The AirAsia Group reports quarterly traffic figures that include all six existing AirAsia-branded short-haul carriers:
- Malaysia AirAsia
- Thai AirAsia
- Indonesia AirAsia
- Phillippines AirAsia
- AirAsia Zest
- AirAsia Japan
- AirAsia India
3. AirAsia reaches the 50 million annual passenger mark much faster than its low-cost carrier peers in other regions.
4. Its long-haul affiliate, AirAsia X, currently focuses on destinations in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa which includes Thai AirAsiaX and Indonesia AirAsiaX.
5. Citing the BBC News, Indonesia AirAsia flies just one type of plane - the Airbus single-aisle A320. The A320 seats between 150 and 180 passengers, and is known for its distinctive wingtips, which were designed to make the aircraft more fuel efficient.
6. But 2014 was one of AirAsia’s most challenging years, according to Centre of Aviation. Total passenger traffic across all AirAsia branded carriers increased by about 9% in 2014, the smallest growth figure in its history.
7. AirlineRatings.com gives AirAsia X fares better for safety with six out of seven, reports CNN Money.
8. AirAsia operates a fleet of the Airbus A320 aircraft, in which it currently has over 150 Airbus A320s in service and another 200 orders have been placed for the new A320neo. AirAsia now stamps its dominance in Asia with a record total of 475 narrow bodies on order with Airbus.
9. AirAsia biggest pride is winning Skytrax’s ‘World’s Best Low-Cost Airline’ for 7 years running.
10. This airline covering over 165 routes in and around Asia. In January 2017, AirAsia says it's gotten the all clear from US authorities to fly its jetliners to American airports -- the first low-cost Asian airline to do so, reports CNN Money.
LionAir - We Make People Fly
1. Commencing operations in 2000 and based in Jakarta, Lion Air is the largest privately-owned airline in Indonesia. The LCC operates a network of scheduled passenger services throughout South East Asia and the Middle East.
2. Lion Air connects you to over 36 destinations and operates up to 226 flights daily. It flies to 183 routes, which are divided into domestic routes and the international.
3. With a total fleet of 112, aircraft is divided into several types such as Boeing 747-400, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900 ER, ATR-72m, Hawker 900XP and Airbus A330-300. The number of fleets will also be increased according to the order made by Lion Air.
4. Lion Air is part of the Lion Air Group, together with Wings Air, Batik Air, Lion Bizjet, Malindo Air which based in Malaysia, and Thai Lion Air that is based in Thailand.
5. According to The Jakarta Post, its founder Rusdi Kirana said the airline welcomed an average of 30 to 40 new aircraft per year.
6. It targets to see a 15 percent year-on-year (y/y) increase in air passengers to 38.25 million in 2017, from 33.26 million passengers that were carried by the airline in the preceding year.
7.. According to LionAir's official website, a subsidiary of Lion Air Group CAPA 2016 Asia Pacific Regional Airline of the Year, Malindo Air has officially acquired the world's first Boeing 737 MAX 8 to strengthen its fleet.
Source : AirAsia, Indonesia Investments, LionAir
