Lie said it would be a source of pride if the people can own a stake in Sriwijaya Air and together support the further development of this great airline. Sriwijaya Air currently serves 46 domestic routes and seven international routes in the Asia Pacific region with a total of 51 narrow-body Boeing jets. It commands a 13.2 percent market share in Indonesia's ™scheduled flights segment, trailing behind privately-owned Lion Air and Garuda Indonesia that have a 41 percent and 22 percent market share, respectively.

The airline, founded by the Lie family, Johannes Bundjamin and Andy Halim, started planning an IPO since the company posted net profit in three consecutive years. Through the IPO the airline will become more transparent and can obtain fresh funds to finance the purchase of 15 new narrow body (B737-800NG) and 2 new wide body airplanes (B777-300ER), while it also plans to increase the number of flight routes. New aircraft are needed as the airline was offered partnerships to fly international routes, including Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

Meanwhile, Sriwijaya is also planning the development of a maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility in the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport area (located just outside Indonesia's capital city of Jakarta). The airline is currently negotiating land acquisition related to the development of this facility with state-owned airport operator Angkasa Pura II.

Only one airline is listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. In February 2011 Indonesia's national flagship carrier Garuda Indonesia conducted an IPO in which it raised IDR 3.3 trillion (approx. USD $252 million) by selling a 28 percent stake.

Grant Thornton Indonesia, the local unit of a leading global independent assurance, tax and advisory firm, says it is now the right timing for companies to conduct an IPO in Indonesia as the country is showing robust and accelerating economic growth, supported by government reforms and fiscal incentives. Therefore Southeast Asia's largest economy is regarded an attractive investment destination for investors.

Bahas