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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.