Rusdi Kirana Has Lion-Size Ambitions for Indonesia’s Largest Airline
Portrait of Rusdi Kirana founder fast growing Southeast Asian airline Lion Group. Lion Air has more than 110 aircraft and flies more than 180 routes. Kirana planning for that growth with the largest-ever single commercial order from Boeing in its history, $21 billion placed in 2011 for 230 planes (with an option for 150 more). He followed that up in 2013 with a $24 billion order for 234 airplanes from Airbus, also the largest-ever single order.
The 51-year-old Rusdi says he never dreamed that he would have a multibillion-dollar company and the largest privately owned airline company in the country, now with another seven companies under its wings, known collectively as the Lion Group (Lion Air is officially PT Lion Mentari Airlines). In 2013 Lion Group booked $1.6 billion and flew about 38 million passengers. While Lion doesn’t give out profit figures, Forbes Indonesia estimates the Lion Group had at least $200 million in net profits in 2013. Rusdi claims that at least 43 million passengers flew on Lion Group planes in 2014. The company lives up to its motto, “We make people fly.” Photo by Ahmad Zamroni
Rusdi Kirana for Forbes Indonesia cover story. Photo by Ahmad Zamroni
Potrait of Rusdi Kirana, the chief executive of Indonesia’s Lion group for Forbes Indonesia cover story. Rusdi’s adaptability has served him well in the volatile airline business. Starting with just $900,000 in 1999, he and his brother have built Lion Air as the largest airline in Indo- nesia, by passengers flown and fleet size. Rusdi is planning to take the pri- vate airline public soon and the most recent indicative value of the airline is about Rp 30 trillion, nearly double the value of the listed national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia. Photo by Ahmad Zamroni/HKV
Lion Air chief executive officer (CEO) Rusdi Kirana poses for a portrait at a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility ,Hang Nadim International Airport, Batam. The new MRO centre, to be called Batam Aero Technic, will handle heavy maintenance for Lion Group airlines, as well as heavy checks for third-party customers. Photo by Ahmad Zamroni
Lion Air chief executive officer (CEO) Rusdi Kirana poses for a portrait at a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility ,Hang Nadim International Airport, Batam. The new MRO centre, to be called Batam Aero Technic, will handle heavy maintenance for Lion Group airlines, as well as heavy checks for third-party customers. Photo by Ahmad Zamroni
