Batik Air launches with two domestic routes from Jakarta

Batik Air, the full-service subsidiary of Lion Air, inaugurated its operations on 26 April with the launch of two domestic routes from Jakarta (CGK). The carrier, which was conceived to challenge Garuda Indonesia, now offers daily services on the route to Balikpapan (BPN) in eastern Borneo, and twice-daily to Manado (MDC) in North Sulawesi. Both destinations are served with 737-900ERs. Competition on the route to Borneo comes from Garuda Indonesia (57 weekly flights), Lion Air (56), Citilink (21) and Sriwijaya Air (14), while in the market from Jakarta to Manado, Batik Air faces Lion Air (28) and Garuda Indonesia (14).