KUALA LUMPUR – Batik Air last Sunday hosted a special send-off ceremony for 140 Ayyappan Swamy devotees at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA Terminal 1), marking their departure for a sacred pilgrimage to Tiruchirappalli, India.
The ceremony, attended by Sentosa assemblyman Gunarajah R. George, reflected the airline’s continued support for religious and community-based travel, particularly the annual Ayyappan Swamy pilgrimage, which draws tens of thousands of devotees each year.
In response to the growing number of Malaysian devotees travelling to India for the pilgrimage, Batik Air provided special facilitation this year, including a dedicated send-off at the airport and coordinated travel arrangements to ensure a smooth, respectful and dignified departure.
Batik Air chief executive officer Datuk Chandran Rama Muthy said the airline recognises both the spiritual importance of the pilgrimage and the responsibility involved in facilitating such journeys.
“The Ayyappan Swamy pilgrimage carries deep spiritual meaning for the devotees, and we want their journey to begin in a manner that reflects dignity, care and respect,” he said.
“Our role goes beyond transporting passengers, it is about understanding the purpose of their journey and ensuring it is handled with sensitivity and attention.”
He added that Batik Air aims to make the start of the pilgrimage a meaningful and memorable experience, setting a positive tone for the spiritual journey ahead.
As part of the send-off, Batik Air also presented the devotees with a small gift of ghee, sponsored by Enrico, to support essential religious practices associated with the pilgrimage.
Through initiatives such as this, Batik Air continues to work closely with relevant authorities and partners to support community and religious travel, while maintaining service standards and operational efficiency from departure to destination.
Batik Air operates from its main hubs at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, serving more than 60 destinations across 20 countries with a fleet comprising Airbus A330-300 and Boeing 737 aircraft. -MalayaDailyToday
