Batavia Air plans Jakarta-Penang direct flights

BT 22/7/2009

JAKARTA-based airline, Batavia Air, plans to introduce direct flights between the Indonesian capital and Penang this September.Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri said details have yet to be finalised and the company was still in talks with Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd (MAHB) (5014). "Once realised, the move is set to benefit Penang's tourism landscape in particular, and Malaysia in general," he told reporters after a briefing session with MAHB at the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas, Penang, yesterday. Batavia Air is set to be the third low-cost carrier to have direct flights to Penang this year.Two other carriers, Jetstar and Tiger Airways, have separately introduced direct flights between Singapore and Penang respectively. So far, at least 15 airlines are operating at the airport here.

Meanwhile, Abdul Rahim said the first phase of the airport expansion, at a cost of RM250 million and expected to be completed by 2010, would be able to accommodate more passengers.The airport aims to handle at least 15 million passengers a year from 2016 when the second phase of the airport expansion is done.The expansion works include upgrading the passenger terminal, constructing a new multi-storey carpark and the upgrading of security system.

Last year, the airport handled 3.4 million passengers, 193,000 metric tonnes of cargoes and 39,798 flights.