TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Lion Air Group, the airline company that has so far operated as a low-cost carrier, plans to try its hand at offering world class air services for the elite. Lion launched Batik Air exactly on the occasion of its 12th anniversary. "The operation is scheduled to start in March 2012," said CEO of Lion Air Rusdi Kirana on the occasion of its anniversary at Halim Perdanakusumah Airport, Friday, June 8, 2012. Rusdi disclosed that a great deal of money was spent to open this business unit. Hundreds of billions of American dollars. "This is because the aircraft will be luxuriously designed," he said. The luxurious design, said Rusdi, was the addition of Wi-fi and TV monitor at each seat. "[The passengers] can also use their own phone while in the air," he said. General Affairs Director Edward Sirait said that Batik Air would modify the seats, so there would be only 190 passenger seats so that the passengers would become more comfortable. Edward disclosed that the airline company planned to work on the regional market. "Sixty percent domestic, 40 percent on regional market such as Australia," said Edward. Batik Air would also fly to places other national airline companies have never gone before. "For example, India. None has ever gone there," he said. Rusdi said Batik Air would try to use Medan as the hub for West Asia heading for Asean. Manado would be used as a hub for East Asia heading for Indonesia. NUR ALFIYAH