Lion Air
Indonesia’s privately owned low-cost airline, operating an extensive domestic network and selected international services through major hubs including Jakarta, Makassar and Surabaya.
About Lion Air
Lion Air is an Indonesian low-cost airline founded in 1999 and launched into commercial service in 2000. It is privately owned and forms the core of Lion Air Group, an aviation group whose other brands include Batik Air and Wings Air. Lion Air uses the IATA code JT and has developed its identity around high-frequency, price-conscious air travel within Indonesia, where geography makes aviation an important form of intercity transport.
Jakarta is Lion Air’s busiest departure hub, followed by Makassar, Surabaya, Denpasar and Medan. The airline operates 265 routes serving 66 destinations across 5 countries, with particularly broad coverage of the Indonesian archipelago. Important domestic points include Batam, Manado, Bandung, Ambon, Balikpapan, Yogyakarta and Jayapura. International flying is more limited, although its network includes the long Jakarta–Medina service.
Aircraft types associated with Lion Air’s operations include Boeing 737-800 and 737-900 models, alongside earlier Boeing 737-300 and 737-400 variants. Records also include the Boeing 747-400, MD-82, ATR turboprops and De Havilland Canada Dash 8 aircraft. The airline’s mainline service is designed principally around economy travel, while cabin layouts and any premium seating can vary by aircraft and route.
Lion Air is not a member of Star Alliance, SkyTeam or Oneworld, so passengers should not expect alliance-wide status recognition, lounge access or through-ticketing benefits. Its own loyalty programme is Lion Air Passport, which is intended to reward eligible travel within the carrier’s ecosystem. Travellers should check current earning, redemption and membership conditions directly with Lion Air because eligibility and benefits can change.
Lion Air’s main strength is the breadth of its domestic network, which connects large Indonesian cities with regional markets and can provide useful nonstop options. Its low-cost structure means fare rules, baggage and optional services require careful review before purchase. Operational schedules may also change, so passengers making connections should allow adequate time and reconfirm departure details close to travel.
Good to know
Flying with Lion Air — what to expect
Check Fare Conditions
Lion Air fares can differ in their change, refund and baggage conditions. Review the rules attached to the specific ticket before paying.
Confirm Baggage Inclusion
Checked-baggage entitlements may depend on the route, fare and current policy. Verify the allowance shown on your booking rather than assuming that every low-cost fare includes checked luggage.
Keep Cabin Bags Light
Cabin baggage is subject to weight, size and item limits, which may be enforced at check-in or boarding. Consult Lion Air’s current policy and leave room for any items purchased at the airport.
Allow Connection Time
Lion Air operates across several busy Indonesian hubs, where terminal procedures and schedule disruptions can affect transfers. Build a sensible buffer, especially when connecting on separate tickets.
Recheck Flight Details
Confirm the operating airport, terminal and departure time before travelling. This is particularly important in cities served by more than one airport or when schedules have been revised.
Expect Low-Cost Service
Service is structured around affordable transportation, with amenities and optional extras varying by route and aircraft. Bring essentials and verify whether meals or other services are included.
Network overview
Where Lion Air flies
Lion Air operates 265 routes to 66 destinations across 5 countries, its longest sector reaching Jakarta to Medina (8,002 km nonstop).
Destinations served
Cities Lion Air flies to, most-served first.
Main hubs
Busiest departure bases, by route count.
Fleet
Aircraft types on record for these routes.
Longest nonstop route
Jakarta → Medina
8,002 km · CGK → MED
The longest sector in the Lion Air network, measured as the great-circle distance between the two airports.
Route data · TravelPayouts route data · updated 2026-07
Route network
Popular routes operated by Lion Air
Tracked Lion Air routes touch Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia.
Reviews of Lion Air
TripAdvisor · 2021–2023- 51
- 42
- 32
- 25
- 140
What travellers flew
Counted from the 50 reviews below — a tally of the flights reviewed, with each chip carrying the average score those reviewers gave. Nothing here reads their prose or summarises what they said.
✓ marks a group averaging 7/10 or better, − one averaging 4/10 or worse, across at least three reviews.
Failed to inform customer about flight changes for 2 ways
Failed to inform customer of flight change for 2 ways, no email or SMS receive from them. My Aunt only get to learned that the flight from Don Muang Airport to Ubon Ratchatani Airport had pushed earlier to 14:15 Hrs when arrived at Don Muang Airport today on… See more 24th May 2023, the flight was supposed to be scheduled at Thailand timing 15:05 Hrs, luckily we booked an earlier timing from Singapore to Don Muang Airport via Airasia. They had also told my aunt that the flight (SL627) for 21st June 2023 (14:05Hrs) had been rescheduled, which they also failed to inform via email. Now they (My Aunt) will have to rebooked another airline in order to fit into 21st June 2023 schedule flight from Don Muang to Singapore. They told us that they will definitely dropped an email to us but we did not receive any of it. I had checked on their website to see whether if the flight have any changes for both dates (via booking tickets number), everything still remain unchanged, timing is still at 15:05 Hrs for 24th May 2023 and 21st June 2023 flight is still the same. Just a heads up for people who are travelling from Ubon Ratchatani Airport to Don Muang Airport on 21st June 2023 that my Aunt had reconfirmed with Lion Air customer service at Don Muang Airport that 21st June 2023 (14:05Hrs) schedule had changed. Do be prepared to do your necessary in order not to delay your next flight or schedule. I had attached the after booking ticket and the search booking ticket for today.
See lessPosted May 2023 by Darius T
Absolutely the worst!!!
Can't talk to a human being,have to wait until the read your message on whatsapp. Chnage flights with little notice then they screw up your ticket so you can't check in online. They suck!!!!
Posted May 2023 by Tamara S, Philadelphia
Lion Air experience
Lion Air is pretty consistent with delays and operational issues. The transit process is very inconvenient and not very intuitive. Often prints tickets suggesting a direct flight from place of departure to destination when it actually includes a transit in… See more between. Check in is a hit or miss situation. Some places it runs smoothly while others prioritises baggage checked in as cargo over the passengers standing in line without being informed the counter is used for other purposes. Operation of Lion Air is horrible run and very inefficient.
See lessPosted May 2023 by Steven H, Beaufort West
Terrible
There has been a two hour delay and they still do not know when we can fly, it made my trio miserable. I hate this airline
Posted May 2023 by hamideh h
broken luggage and zero communication
When I arrived in bali my suitcase was cracked down the middle and missing a wheel and another wheel was damaged. I reported this at the airport and a ticket number and file was made. I was told to submit that form to 2 lion air emails that they provided me. I… See more did that same day. They responded a week later saying they will send me luggage to my hotel in Bali. Even though I expected to be moving hotels every few days I cancelled hotels in order to stay in one location so they could send me the new suitcase (they refused to provide a refund so this was my only option instead of buying a new one at the time) After that, all communication stopped for over a month. No responses to numours emails. By now I had landed in Thailand. It became impossible to lug the suitcase around and I couldn't find any within the airport that were large enough to fit my stuff so I had to pay for 1-month storage at the airport, buy a new suitcase and fit what I could in that one for the month I was in Thailand. Still no emails back at this time so I put another ticket in. Within that ticket, I had to fill out so much info, a waste of time. They would just respond with an auto-reply saying the ticket is under review and then a week later with no reply I would just get an email saying the ticket is closed. This issue started end of February and it is now the middle of May and I am still in the same place. I open a ticket, it gets closed over and over again. I fly almost every month, sometimes 6-7 times within the same month and I have never experienced anything like this before. Ruined my plans in Bali, and created several extra costs including airport storage and a new suitcase, getting from airport to airport was a nightmare in both countries. I would have preferred if they just told me from the beginning they had no intention of replacing anything and saved me the constant disappointment and struggle. Truly shocking
See lessPosted May 2023 by Brit M
Avoid- Tired, dirty plane, no room for knees, not even water served- Avoid if possible.
Avoid flying with any Lyon Air service- Our flight had no knee room- We were all hitting seat in front of us, plane was dirty and tired, not even a small bottle of water served. There own policy if required mask wearing not enforced; Many dozens of flyers not… See more wearing masks. Avoid this company if you can.
See lessPosted April 2023 by Getaway722456
Traveller reviews originally published on TripAdvisor, shown for reference — service standards may have changed since. Originfacts does not edit or verify individual reviews, and the sample reflects who chose to leave one.
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FAQ
Lion Air — frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the details travellers usually check first, from codes and locations to the practical basics that help with planning.
8 common questions
- Jakarta is Lion Air’s primary and busiest departure hub. Makassar, Surabaya, Denpasar and Medan are also major bases in its network.
- The busiest departure points are Jakarta, Makassar, Surabaya, Denpasar and Medan. Their principal airports are Soekarno-Hatta International, Sultan Hasanuddin International, Juanda International, I Gusti Ngurah Rai International and Kualanamu International, respectively.
- Lion Air’s longest route is Jakarta to Medina, covering about 8,002 km nonstop.
- Lion Air serves 66 destinations across 5 countries, operating 265 routes.
- Originfacts compares live fares from hundreds of airlines and travel agencies via its partner Travelpayouts. Originfacts never adds a fee to the prices shown.
- Lion Air flies extensively within Indonesia, including Jakarta, Makassar, Surabaya, Denpasar, Medan, Batam, Manado, Bandung, Ambon, Balikpapan, Yogyakarta and Jayapura. It also operates selected international services.
- Lower fares are generally easier to find when booking early, travelling outside major Indonesian holidays and avoiding peak weekend periods. Compare nearby dates because prices change with demand and remaining seat inventory.
- Lion Air limits cabin baggage by size, weight and number of items, but the applicable allowance can depend on the route and current policy. Check the airline’s official baggage rules and the conditions displayed on your booking before departure.