A Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet on the tarmac of Soekarno Hatta International airport near Jakarta, Indonesia. — Reuters photo
HONG KONG: Lion Air is targeting a flotation of up to US$1 billion in the first quarter of 2020, several sources close to the matter said, as the Indonesian airline resumes growth after a year dominated by the fatal crash of one of its Boeing 737 MAX jets.
The budget carrier, which had been awaiting an official report on last year’s crash before making key decisions including a long-delayed initial public offering, is hoping to fund future aircraft deliveries to service an improving market.
Last month’s Indonesian accident report focused on flaws in Boeing cockpit software, while recommending better training at Lion Air and improved US and local regulation.
“The Indonesian market is finally showing signs of stability.
“This is a good time to tap the market,” one individual with knowledge of the plans said.
The sources all declined to be named as they are not authorised to speak to the media about the IPO, which would involve Lion Air’s core Indonesian airline and could rank as one of the biggest floats in Indonesia.
A Lion Air spokesman in Jakarta declined comment.
Reuters reported in March that the 20-year-old Lion Air, which has grown into one of Asia’s largest budget carriers with about 110 planes, had begun preliminary work on the IPO and informally tapped advisers.
The source said the IPO could raise between US$750 million to US$1 billion, but an amount had not been finalised.
Lion Air is part of the Lion Air Group, which has airline joint ventures in Malaysia and Thailand and also operates airports in Indonesia and aircraft maintenance facilities.
State-run Garuda Indonesia, which turned profitable in the first nine months of this year, took operational control of smaller rival Sri Wijaya Group late last year, helping it
capture about half of the local market.
Lion Air, which roughly controls the other half, has toyed with a flotation over the past five years, only to conclude that it could fund some of the biggest multi-billion dollar orders placed with Boeing and Airbus from its own operations and bank financing. — Reuters