Source:
ReutersBy Janeman Latul
JAKARTA | Fri Nov 18, 2011 6:38am EST
(Reuters) - Little over a decade ago, Indonesian budget airline Lion Air served a single route on remote Borneo island. On Friday, it placed a $21.7 billion order with Boeing (BA.N), the airplane giant's biggest commercial order on record.
PT Lion Mentari was founded with just $10 million in start-up capital in 1999 by Kusnan and Rusdi Kirana, who ran a travel agency until they spotted a growth opportunity when the Indonesian government deregulated the aviation industry.
Lion Air -- 48-year-old Rusdi is now CEO, and Kusnan is president commissioner -- was one of dozens of new carriers to emerge around that time in Southeast Asia's biggest economy, including Sriwijaya Air and the now bankrupt Adam Air.
The Boeing deal for 230 short-haul jets takes Lion Air's orderbook to more than 400 planes, which they aim to use to fly across an Asia-Pacific region still seeing robust passenger growth despite the shaky global economy.
Read more:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/18/uk-lionair-idUSLNE7AH00F20111118
Obama lauds Boeing-Indonesia dealby USA Today Feed on Nov. 18, 2011, under USA Today News
While in Bali for an East Asian economic summit, President Obama praised a new trade deal today in which Boeing will send planes to an Indonesian airline in order to create jobs in the United States.
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Said Obama:
“This is a remarkable example of the trade, investment and commercial opportunities that exist in the Asia-Pacific region. For the last several days I’ve been talking about how we have to make sure that we’ve got a presence in this region, and it involves … jobs at home.”
“It’s going to result in over 100,000 jobs back in the United States of America, over a long period of time. This represents the largest deal, if I’m not mistaken, that Boeing has ever done. We are looking at over 200 planes that are going to be sold and the U.S. administration and the Ex-Im Bank in particular were critical to facilitate this deal. I want to thank all the administration officials who were dogged in trying to get this (deal).”
“This is an example of a win-win situation where people in the region are going to be able to benefit from outstanding airlines, and our workers back home are going to be able to have job security and be able to produce an outstanding product made in America. So congratulations, gentlemen. Thank you so much.”
Full article:
http://tucsoncitizen.com/usa-today-news/2011/11/18/obama-lauds-boeing-indonesia-deal/