Indonesia's Lion Air roars with record Boeing order (Boeing's biggest commercial order on record)

[Turborama]

Source: Reuters

By 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

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Obama lauds Boeing-Indonesia deal

by 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.

=snip=

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/

[RT Atlanta]

1. Amazing!

Boeing just landed a huge $17 billion order last week from the Middle East. Hope that means some good manufacturing jobs here, in the good ole U.S. of A.

[Plucketeer]

2. Whoa!

Let's hope the beleagured Boeing can move most the work on these planes to right-to-work states! :sarcasm:

[jpak]

3. jobs jobs jobs

yup

:thumbsup:

[david_vincent]

4. Let me tell you about my friend Michael

Michael was an engineer for Boeing. He lived and worked in the Seattle area. His job was sent to Russia.
Michael never worked again. His live-in girlfriend killed herself. Not too long after that, Michael had a heart attack while driving and was killed.
I am completely convinced that the loss of his job is what killed him, for which Boeing is responsible.

RIP Michael. I won't forget you.

(unfortunately, it seems to be necessary here at DU to add that this is a true story and, yes, Michael was his real name)

[Turborama]

5. Lion who? What record Boeing-Indonesia deal means

By Kevin Voigt, CNN


US President Barack Obama stands alongside Ray Conner, second right, senior vice president
of Boeing, and Rusdy Kirana, president director of Lion Air, during a signing ceremony for a
record $21.7 billion deal.

=snip=

Lion who?

If you have never heard of Lion Air, you're not alone. Unless you speak Bahasa Indonesia and have traveled around the vast array of islands that make up the world's most populous Muslim nation, there is no reason why you should have.

=snip=

"From east to west, Indonesia spans 5,000 miles and we have 230 million (people) and not enough aircraft to meet the growth of the number of passengers," (Lion Air CEO) Kirana said.

=snip=

While the developed world has been pummeled with recession, stagnant growth and rising debt burdens in the wake of the 2007-2008 Financial Crisis, developing powerhouses like Indonesia have continued to rise.

Indonesia's economic output was $706.6 billion in 2010, up from just $95.4 billion in 1998 when the nation was embroiled in the Asian Financial Crisis, which led to the end of the longtime dictatorship of Indonesian President Suharto. His departure led the way for economic and political reform in the world's fourth most populous nation.

Full article: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/18/business/boeing-lion-air-indonesia-analysis/index.html

[SoapBox]

6. And boy oh boy...that Obama is the worst ever.

*SNARK*

Hey GOPBaggers / T.Haters...what is your plan for America? Declare war on anyone and everyone? Bomb every place?

Gee...what a plan. Oh that's right...just copy the BushCo. model...War! Cut taxes!! Bankrupt America!!!

Go Prez O! It's gonna be a landslide.