Batik Air (ID, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta) will launch flights from Manado to Guangzhou during the third or fourth quarter of this year as part of plans by parent, Lion Air (JT, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta), to use Manado as "a springboard to reach destinations in East Asia." Lion Air president director, Rusdi Kirana, said the group would also be opening flight schools in Manado along with the construction of an MRO hangar at Sam Ratulangi International Airport. Once everything is in place, flights to Shanghai Hongqiao, Beijing Capital, Seoul Incheon and Tokyo Narita are planned.