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Alaska Airlines Stops Handing Out Prayer Cards, but They're Not the Only Airline with Them

By now you've probably already heard the news that Alaska Airlines is doing away with dispensing mealtime prayer cards onboard. For many travelers, the fact that an airline would do this in the first place is surprising. Like flyer need to be reminded that their lives are in the hands of a few people sitting up front, and the buttons and switches they're operating to keep the plane aloft and on course.

Well, while Alaska Airlines sends all those prayer cards to the recycling bin, at least one other airline is continuing the practice. Twitter user @Jonathan_Liem tipped us off that Lion Air, an Indonesian carrier that flies around SE Asia, includes "invocation pamphlets," printed with prayers for several religions, in your seatback pocket. "Please do not remove from aircraft." Ay yai yai.

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Airlines / New Routes / Lion Air / Australia Travel / Low Cost Carriers / LCCs / → All Tags

Will Lion Air Roar Into Australia?

The skies are really heating up in the southern hemisphere and right now it's Lion Air that's making news. It's an Indonesian-based low cost carrier that's looking to crack the Australian market, through a partnership with Aussie-owned SkyAirWorld.

The joint venture is actually called Lion Air Australia, and the airline intends to compete on Australian domestic routes as well as flights into Indonesia and other Southeast Asian destinations. The problem at the moment is whether or not it can pass Australian air safety regulations; that's a question because the mother airline Lion Air has written off no less than three planes in landing accidents in the last eight years.

Right now, it all boils down to some confusion about who's really leading the joint venture. SkyAirWorld says they are--with Australian pilots and Australian maintenance--but Lion Air told the Indonesian media that they'll be the boss. We'll have to wait and see just where and when Lion Air Australia is allowed to fly--though landing, rather than flying, seems to be their biggest challenge.

Related Stories:
· Airline Faces Aussie Rules Test [The Age]
· New Routes: Tons of Transpacific News [Jaunted]
· Low Cost Carriers coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Drewski2112]