Batam – Batik Air has expanded its wings through a new route to Batam, Indonesia from Terminal 1 of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), starting in early February this year.

Operating three times a week, the new route aligns with Batik Air’s commitment to expanding its network growth in Southeast Asia and meeting the increasing demand for intra-regional travel.

The first flight using a Boeing B737 aircraft was traditionally welcomed with a water salute upon landing at Hang Nadim International Airport, Batam recently.

As a promotion, the B737 aircraft with a 180-seat economy class configuration is now offering prices as low as RM139 one-way.

The Chief Executive Officer of Hang Nadim International Airport, Pikri Ilham Kurniansyah, said that with the new flight, they aim to increase tourist traffic with the entry of two million tourists to Batam.

This strategic collaboration will enable Batam and Kuala Lumpur to grow together. With the new flight, it will be easier for travelers from Malaysia to visit Batam.

“For Indonesia, it will make it easier for us to travel abroad by making Malaysia a transit hub,” he said.

Director-General of Tourism Malaysia, Datuk Ammar Abd Ghapar, along with representatives from Batik Air and Malaysia Airport Holdings (MAHB), expressed excitement about this strategic collaboration.

“For this year, we set a target of 4.1 passengers from Indonesia. Indonesia is a major tourism market for Malaysia based on cultural relations and connectivity shared between the two countries.

“In line with Visit Malaysia Year 2026, we are confident that this relationship will further increase tourist arrivals and contribute to the economic prosperity of both countries.

“In the meantime, we see many tourists from Indonesia who make Malaysia a transit hub before flying to perform Umrah,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of Batik Air, Datuk Chandran Rama Muthy, said the introduction of direct flights from Batam to Kuala Lumpur is a strategic step to expand the airline’s presence in key markets.

“This new route allows passengers from Batam to connect to Batik Air’s increasingly growing network of 53 destinations across 22 countries through KLIA,” he said.

Indonesia ranks second in the top 10 ASEAN markets generating tourists to Malaysia, contributing 2.8 million arrivals between January and November 2023. -MalayaDailyToday