TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Three airlines are set to launch direct flights to popular tourist destinations in Indonesia. They are Jeju Air, Batik Air Malaysia, and Super Air Jet.

This news was announced by Nia Niscaya, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy's Main Expert in Tourism and Creative Economy, during a hybrid edition of "The Weekly Brief with Sandi Uno" held on Monday, July 22, 2024.

“These new flights will significantly improve accessibility to Indonesian cities,” Nia stated.

The three new flight routes are as follows:

1. Jeju Air (Jeju - Denpasar)

Starting October 27, 2024, Korean airline Jeju Air will offer flights from Incheon, Seoul, to Denpasar, Bali, seven times a week. The aircraft will have a capacity of 180 passengers per flight.

This route provides easy connections for Korean citizens from various cities via Incheon, Seoul, the capital of South Korea, to Bali.

2. Batik Air (Kuala Lumpur - Various Indonesian Cities)

Batik Air Malaysia will launch flights from Kuala Lumpur to four destinations in Indonesia. Here are the details:

- Kuala Lumpur - Surabaya: Starting August 1, 2024, with Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Flights will operate twice daily with a capacity of 150 passengers per flight.

- Kuala Lumpur - Lombok: Also starting August 1, 2024, with the same aircraft type. Flights will operate four times a week with a capacity of 150 passengers per flight.

- Kuala Lumpur - Padang: Starting August 10, 2024, with seven flights a week and a capacity of 150 passengers per flight. “Padang is a popular shopping destination for Malaysians, known for its embroidery, songket (traditional fabric), mukena (prayer robe), and creative economy products,” Nia explained.

- Kuala Lumpur - Pekanbaru: Starting August 10, 2024, with seven flights a week and a capacity of 150 passengers per flight.

3. Super Air Jet

Super Air Jet will offer flights from Kuala Lumpur to Aceh, starting August 3, 2024. The Airbus 320 aircraft will operate seven times a week with a capacity of 180 passengers per flight.

Nia highlighted Aceh's appeal to Malaysian tourists due to the presence of the Tsunami Museum. “The museum holds a powerful story, and its architecture is remarkable. The tsunami incident serves as a reminder of the Almighty's power,” Nia said.

She emphasized that air travel accounts for 70% of foreign tourist arrivals in Indonesia. She hoped these new flight routes would significantly increase foreign tourist visits, with a target of 9.5 million to 14.3 million visitors for 2024. As of May 2024, Indonesia has received 5.24 million foreign tourists, or 36.7% of the highest target range.

MILA NOVITA

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