Lion Air (Indonesia) (ICAO: LNI) is a prominent low-cost carrier in Southeast Asia, known for its extensive network primarily within Indonesia.
Lion Air, legally established on November 15, 1999, was founded by brothers Rusdi and Kusnan Kirana, commencing its operations on June 30, 2000, with its inaugural flight from Jakarta to Pontianak. It rapidly grew to become Indonesia's largest privately run airline and the country's first low-cost airline, with the motto "We Make People Fly" aiming to make air travel accessible.
The airline's main operational base and primary hub is Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) in Jakarta. It also utilizes secondary hubs such as Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport (UPG) in Makassar and Juanda International Airport (SUB) in Surabaya to support regional connectivity. Lion Air's fleet primarily consists of Boeing 737 aircraft, including Next Generation, 900ER, and MAX series variants, supplemented by Airbus A330s for longer routes. The broader Lion Air Group operates a fleet of over 300 aircraft.
Lion Air boasts an extensive route network, comprising over 183 domestic routes connecting various destinations across Indonesia. Its international reach extends to countries like Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, India, Japan, and Saudi Arabia, alongside charter services to mainland China, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Macau. Lion Air is not a member of any of the major global airline alliances (Star Alliance, SkyTeam, or Oneworld). It is, however, the flagship carrier of the Lion Air Group, which includes subsidiary airlines such as Wings Air, Batik Air (Indonesia), Batik Air (Malaysia), and Thai Lion Air. As a low-cost carrier, Lion Air focuses on providing affordable fares, meaning in-flight amenities and services are generally basic, typically without complimentary meals, drinks, or entertainment.
What Travelers Love:
Common Complaints:
Overall, the general sentiment among travelers regarding Lion Air is largely negative, often reflected in "poor" ratings on review platforms. While its affordability and extensive domestic network are acknowledged, issues concerning punctuality, customer service, and basic comfort significantly detract from the overall passenger experience.
Lion Air has a mixed safety record throughout its history. A significant incident was the fatal crash of Lion Air Flight 610, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, in October 2018, which resulted in the loss of all 189 passengers and crew shortly after takeoff from Jakarta. Prior to this, a 2004 crash killed 25 people, and other incidents between 2002 and 2013 resulted in aircraft damage and injuries.
In terms of regulatory certifications, Lion Air achieved IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification in 2016 and successfully underwent recertification in 2018 and 2019. IOSA certification is an internationally recognized audit system for assessing airline operational management and control systems. Furthermore, Indonesia's aviation safety, including that of Lion Air, saw an upgrade to a US FAA Category 1 rating in 2016, which permits Indonesian carriers to operate direct flights to the United States. The European Union (EU) also lifted its ban on Lion Air in 2016, with a broader blanket ban on Indonesian carriers being removed in mid-2018, indicating improvements in safety oversight and compliance.
The Lion Air Group states it has rigorous aircraft fleet maintenance procedures, conducted at its own maintenance and repair facilities, and maintains a strict Safety Management System. While past public reviews have sometimes mentioned concerns about maintenance or fleet age, the airline's regulatory certifications reflect ongoing efforts to meet international safety standards.
Based on available data, Lion Air has made strides in aligning with international safety practices, as evidenced by its IOSA certification and the lifting of prior bans by major regulatory bodies. However, its safety record includes notable past incidents, most significantly the 2018 crash. Indonesia, as a member of ICAO, holds an aviation safety rating of 80.8%. No specific safety awards or recognitions beyond regulatory compliance and certifications were found in the research.
| Route | Destination | Flights | Distance | Aircraft | Last Seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CGK → UPG |
Sultan Hasanuddin Int'l
Makassar / Ujung Pandang
|
322 | 891 mi | B739 | Dec 11, 2025 |
| SUB → UPG |
Sultan Hasanuddin Int'l
Makassar / Ujung Pandang
|
275 | 492 mi | B739 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| KNO → CGK |
Jakarta-Soekarno-Hatta Int'l
Tangerang
|
251 | 863 mi | B739 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| PLW → UPG |
Sultan Hasanuddin Int'l
Makassar / Ujung Pandang
|
169 | 288 mi | B738 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| UPG → CGK |
Jakarta-Soekarno-Hatta Int'l
Tangerang
|
155 | 891 mi | B739 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| MDC → UPG |
Sultan Hasanuddin Int'l
Makassar / Ujung Pandang
|
144 | 589 mi | B738 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| TTE → UPG |
Sultan Hasanuddin Int'l
Makassar / Ujung Pandang
|
133 | 677 mi | B738 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| TKG → CGK |
Jakarta-Soekarno-Hatta Int'l
Tangerang
|
123 | 119 mi | B739 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| BPN → SUB |
Juanda Int'l
Surabaya
|
111 | 509 mi | B738 | Dec 11, 2025 |
| KNO → BTH |
Hang Nadim
Batam
|
109 | 401 mi | B739 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| CGK → KNO |
Kuala Namu International
Deli Serdang
|
106 | 863 mi | B39M | Dec 9, 2025 |
| UPG → SUB |
Juanda Int'l
Surabaya
|
101 | 492 mi | B739 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| KDI → UPG |
Sultan Hasanuddin Int'l
Makassar / Ujung Pandang
|
91 | 209 mi | B739 | Dec 7, 2025 |
| LOP → SUB |
Juanda Int'l
Surabaya
|
84 | 257 mi | B738 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| AMQ → UPG |
Sultan Hasanuddin Int'l
Makassar / Ujung Pandang
|
82 | 596 mi | B738 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| BDJ → SUB |
Juanda Int'l
Surabaya
|
75 | 304 mi | B738 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| PKY → SUB |
Juanda Int'l
Surabaya
|
74 | 365 mi | B738 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| SOQ → UPG |
Sultan Hasanuddin Int'l
Makassar / Ujung Pandang
|
72 | 860 mi | B739 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| BTH → KNO |
Kuala Namu International
Deli Serdang
|
69 | 401 mi | B738 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| SUB → CGK |
Jakarta-Soekarno-Hatta Int'l
Tangerang
|
66 | 430 mi | B739 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| PNK → SUB |
Juanda Int'l
Surabaya
|
61 | 552 mi | B738 | Dec 7, 2025 |
| CGK → DPS |
Ngurah Rai/Bali Intl
Bali/Denpasar
|
59 | 611 mi | B739 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| PNK → CGK |
Jakarta-Soekarno-Hatta Int'l
Tangerang
|
58 | 455 mi | B738 | Dec 7, 2025 |
| BPN → YIA | Yogyakarta International Airport | 57 | 657 mi | B739 | Dec 11, 2025 |
| DJJ → MKQ |
Mopah
Merauke
|
55 | 411 mi | B739 | Dec 8, 2025 |
Airline statistics are based on flight route observations collected from FlightAware AeroAPI and other sources. Flight counts represent observed operations, not scheduled frequencies. Route data is continuously updated as new flight information becomes available.