Category: Travel News

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AirAsia Launches Direct Kuala Lumpur – Batam Flights

AirAsia Malaysia has strengthened cross-border connectivity between Malaysia and Indonesia with the launch of a new direct route between Kuala Lumpur and Batam, making travel between the two neighbouring countries more convenient.

New route expands Malaysia–Indonesia network

The Kuala Lumpur – Batam service marks a key milestone for AirAsia, expanding its network to 19 routes between Malaysia and Indonesia. In 2025, the airline carried nearly three million passengers between the two countries, underlining strong and sustained demand for regional travel.

Boost for tourism and Visit Malaysia 2026

Batam welcomed more than 120,000 international tourist visits in 2025, with Malaysian travellers accounting for 23% of the total. With the introduction of direct flights, AirAsia expects Malaysian visitor numbers to Batam to increase further.

The new route also supports the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign, which targets 4.6 million Indonesian visitors, while aligning with Indonesia’s goal of attracting up to 17 million foreign tourists in 2026.

Daily flights and promotional fares

Daily flights between Kuala Lumpur and Batam will commence on 13 March 2026. Promotional all-in one-way fares start from RM199 from Kuala Lumpur to Batam, while fares from Batam to Kuala Lumpur start from IDR 899,000.

The special fares are available for booking until 1 February 2026, for travel between 13 March and 24 October 2026, exclusively via the AirAsia MOVE app and the airline’s official website.

The Kuala Lumpur – Batam route is expected to appeal to both leisure and business travellers, offering easier access to AirAsia’s wider regional network via its Kuala Lumpur hub.

Batam as a regional leisure gateway

Located in Indonesia’s Riau Islands province, Batam is a popular leisure destination and a strategic gateway for travellers from Malaysia and Singapore. The island offers a mix of beaches, cultural attractions, family-friendly activities and modern shopping, alongside its role as an industrial and business centre.

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AirAsia Launches Biggest-Ever Bali Bonanza Sale with Fares from $135

AirAsia has unveiled its largest Bali Bonanza Sale to date, offering one-way fares from as low as $135 as demand for travel between Australia and Bali continues to grow.

Discounted fares from multiple Australian cities

The Big Bali Bonanza Sale includes direct flights to Bali from Perth, Darwin, Adelaide and Melbourne, with Melbourne services starting from 21 March 2026. The promotion targets Australian travellers planning beach holidays or onward connections through AirAsia’s extensive regional network.

  • Perth – Bali from $135
  • Darwin – Bali from $165
  • Melbourne – Bali from $185
  • Adelaide – Bali from $185

Routes such as Perth – Bali and Adelaide – Bali are included in the sale.

Connecting beyond Bali

AirAsia passengers travelling to Bali can take advantage of the airline’s Fly-Thru service, allowing seamless onward connections across its network of more than 130 destinations without the need to recheck baggage.

From Bali, travellers can connect to destinations such as Phuket, Bangkok, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Passengers flying from Melbourne and Sydney to Kuala Lumpur can also connect onwards to cities including Istanbul, Cebu, Tashkent and Osaka.

Extra perks for travellers

Travellers flying with AirAsia can also access exclusive offers in Bali using their boarding pass. These include free entry to Atlas Beach Club, 15% off at Cafe Del Mar and 20% off at This Is Bali restaurant, with more offers expected to be added.

Strong demand from Australia

Australia remains one of Bali’s most important source markets. According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, travel to Indonesia increased by 7% in 2025, making it the most visited overseas destination for Australians last year.

Booking details

The Big Bali Bonanza Sale is available for a limited time via the AirAsia MOVE app, airasia.com, online travel agencies and authorised travel partners.

Bookings can be made until 17 January 2026, for travel up to 31 March 2026. Fares are quoted one-way and are subject to terms and conditions.

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AirAsia X Supports Malaysian Athletes with Charter Flights to ASEAN Para Games 2025

AirAsia X proud to support Malaysian athletes

AirAsia X has extended its charter flight services to support Malaysian athletes competing at the ASEAN Para Games 2025, reinforcing its commitment to inclusivity and national pride.

Charter flights for athletes and coaches

Under a special charter agreement with the National Sports Council of Malaysia, AirAsia X will transport nearly 360 athletes and coaches between Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok on 15 and 27 January 2026.

The dedicated charter flights allow the entire contingent to travel together in comfort, ensuring smooth logistics as the team prepares to compete on the regional stage.

Supporting Malaysia’s sporting journey

AirAsia X described the initiative as a milestone that goes beyond commercial aviation, highlighting the airline’s role in supporting national sporting ambitions and promoting equal opportunities for athletes.

The service strengthens air connectivity on routes such as Kuala Lumpur – Bangkok, while demonstrating the airline’s broader commitment to community and national development.

Commitment to inclusivity and pride

The charter operation reflects AirAsia X’s focus on inclusivity, enabling athletes to travel as a unified team while representing Malaysia at one of Southeast Asia’s most important para-sporting events.

The airline extended its best wishes to the Malaysian contingent, expressing confidence in their determination, resilience and spirit as they compete at the ASEAN Para Games 2025.

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Indonesia AirAsia Expands Domestic Network with New Routes via Makassar

Indonesia AirAsia expands domestic routes via Makassar

Indonesia AirAsia has announced the launch of several new domestic routes connecting Surabaya, Makassar and key cities in Eastern Indonesia, strengthening air connectivity and supporting regional mobility and tourism growth.

Makassar strengthened as a virtual hub

The expansion positions Makassar (UPG) as a strategic virtual hub for Indonesia AirAsia, improving accessibility between major cities and destinations across Sulawesi and Eastern Indonesia. The airline aims to offer more efficient and affordable travel options while supporting economic development in the regions served.

Tickets for the new domestic routes became available for booking from 14 January 2026.

New domestic routes announced

The planned network expansion includes direct flights on the following routes:

Through these routes, passengers from Surabaya gain improved onward access to Kendari, Palu and Luwuk via Makassar, reinforcing the city’s role as a key aviation gateway in Eastern Indonesia.

Improved international connectivity

The enhanced domestic network also supports international travel, as Kendari, Palu and Luwuk are now better connected to Indonesia AirAsia’s Makassar – Kuala Lumpur service. This provides passengers with faster and more seamless access to Kuala Lumpur and the wider AirAsia regional network.

Supporting tourism recovery in Sulawesi

Tourism in South Sulawesi continues to show steady recovery. According to official statistics, international tourist arrivals to the region reached 1,306 visits in November 2025, while domestic travel remained strong with approximately 3.29 million trips recorded.

Makassar serves as a major commercial and service hub in Eastern Indonesia and a gateway to popular destinations across South Sulawesi. Meanwhile, Kendari, Palu and Luwuk are emerging tourism markets known for marine attractions, natural landscapes and cultural heritage.

Booking flights

Travellers can search and book flights for these and other domestic routes via the flight booking page.

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Malaysia Aviation Group to Operate Over 2,400 Flights for Chinese New Year 2026

Malaysia Aviation Group to Operate Over 2,400 Flights for Chinese New Year 2026

Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) will operate more than 2,400 flights during the Chinese New Year (CNY) 2026 travel period, reinforcing domestic connectivity as Malaysians travel home for one of the country’s busiest festive seasons.

Expanded festive flight schedule

The enhanced CNY schedule will run from 11 to 23 February 2026, reflecting increased demand across Malaysia’s domestic network. During this period, Malaysia Airlines will operate up to 1,498 flights, including up to 130 additional services added specifically for the festive peak.

Sister airline Firefly will operate up to 962 flights between 13 and 23 February 2026, with up to 68 additional services, further strengthening capacity during the peak travel window.

Focus on East Malaysia homecoming routes

The expanded operations will primarily support high-demand domestic routes between Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia, including Kota Kinabalu, Tawau and Sandakan. These routes traditionally experience strong passenger flows during the Chinese New Year holiday period.

Key routes such as Kuala Lumpur – Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur – Kuching will benefit from increased capacity, improving seat availability during peak travel days.

Subsidised fares during peak dates

In support of the Malaysian Government’s festive travel initiatives, Malaysia Airlines and Firefly will offer all-in one-way subsidised fares from Kuala Lumpur to selected East Malaysia destinations between 13 and 16 February 2026.

Malaysia Airlines will offer subsidised fares of up to RM569 one-way to destinations including Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Sandakan, Labuan, Kuching, Miri, Sibu and Bintulu. Firefly will offer subsidised one-way fares of up to RM548 to selected East Malaysia destinations, including Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Kuching and Sibu.

Additional promotions and onboard benefits

Beyond domestic travel, MAG continues to promote international travel through its Global New Year campaign, available until 20 January 2026 for travel up to 30 November 2026. The promotion offers all-in return fares from RM159, with Enrich members receiving an additional 5% discount.

Passengers flying with Malaysia Airlines and Firefly can expect complimentary checked baggage, in-flight refreshments and flexible flight change options on selected fare families. Firefly also offers added convenience by operating flights from both Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) Terminal 1 and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Subang (SZB).

Malaysia Airlines passengers connecting between flights will benefit from through-checked baggage and an included meal, ensuring a smooth end-to-end travel experience during the festive season.

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AirAsia X to Resume Direct Kuala Lumpur – Busan Flights from June 2026

AirAsia X to Resume Direct Kuala Lumpur – Busan Flights

AirAsia X has announced the resumption of direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and Busan, restoring nonstop connectivity between Malaysia and South Korea’s second-largest city.

Direct flights return to Busan

The Kuala Lumpur – Busan service will restart on 17 June 2026, operating four times weekly. The route will become AirAsia X’s 21st destination and its second in South Korea, further strengthening the airline’s presence in North Asia.

With the relaunch, AirAsia X will remain the only airline in Malaysia offering direct flights on the Kuala Lumpur – Busan route.

Expanding North Asia network

The return of Busan builds on AirAsia X’s existing service to Seoul, reinforcing South Korea as a key growth market. The airline aims to stimulate new travel demand while supporting tourism flows ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026.

Promotional fares for the relaunch

To celebrate the route’s return, AirAsia X is offering promotional all-in one-way fares from RM299 in Economy Class and RM999 in Premium Flatbed.

  • Booking period: Now until 18 January 2026
  • Travel period: 17 June – 30 November 2026

About Busan

Busan is a major coastal city known for its beaches, scenic mountains and vibrant cultural scene. Popular attractions include Jagalchi Fish Market, colourful hillside neighbourhoods, a renowned food culture and the internationally recognised Busan International Film Festival.

The resumed service is expected to appeal to both Malaysian travellers heading to South Korea and South Korean visitors travelling to Malaysia.

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Capital A Clarifies Bursa Malaysia Decision on Distribution Timeline

Capital A Berhad has clarified that Bursa Malaysia Securities’ decision not to approve an extension of time to complete its Distribution exercise will have no material impact on the Group’s ongoing corporate plans or overall strategy.

No change to strategy, only timeline adjustment

According to Capital A, the only implication of Bursa Securities’ decision is a slight revision to the completion timeline. The Group confirmed that its broader corporate exercises remain intact and unaffected.

Distribution linked to AirAsia X private placement

The Distribution remains conditional upon the completion of the private placement by AirAsia X Berhad (AAX), as new AAX shares must first be issued before they can be distributed to entitled Capital A shareholders.

Bursa Securities has approved an extension for AAX to complete its private placement by 19 January 2026. Capital A’s revised timeline will therefore align with this updated deadline, after which the new AAX shares will be allotted to shareholders as planned.

Entitlement Date and court application

Capital A explained that the Entitlement Date was announced based on the reasonable expectation that identified investors would meet the required deadlines. At the time, there was no indication that the AAX private placement would not be completed within the original target timeframe of 31 December 2025.

The Entitlement Date was also required to enable Capital A to submit a supplemental application to the High Court under Section 116 of the Companies Act 2016. This application relates to a reduction of the Company’s issued share capital of approximately RM2.7 billion, based on the closing market price of AAX shares on the Entitlement Date.

Next steps

Capital A reiterated that the capital reduction quantum can only be determined once the Entitlement Date is set, making the announcement a necessary procedural step. The Group stated that the date was carefully planned to allow sufficient time to obtain the required court order.

Looking ahead

Despite the revised timeline, Capital A confirmed that its overall corporate direction remains unchanged and that the Distribution will proceed once all regulatory and procedural requirements are fulfilled.

For readers planning upcoming travel, flights can be searched and booked via the flight booking page.

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Malaysia Airlines Resumes Direct Kuala Lumpur – Chengdu Flights

Malaysia Airlines has resumed direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and Chengdu, strengthening connectivity between Malaysia and Western China while supporting inbound tourism under the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign.

Strong demand for inaugural service

The inaugural flight MH526 departed Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) Terminal 1 for Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU) on 9 January 2026. The service recorded a strong outbound load factor of 91%, highlighting solid demand for the resumed route.

To mark the occasion, the flight was operated using Malaysia Airlines’ Manchester United-themed aircraft livery, a nod to the club’s strong fan base in Chengdu. Passengers were welcomed with a commemorative send-off event and received exclusive Malaysia Airlines merchandise as part of the celebration.

Expanded presence in Greater China

With the resumption of Chengdu services, Malaysia Airlines now serves seven destinations across the Greater China region. The Kuala Lumpur – Chengdu route operates up to seven times weekly, supporting both business and leisure travel between the two countries.

The route also enhances onward connectivity via Kuala Lumpur, allowing passengers to seamlessly connect to destinations across ASEAN, South Asia and Australasia. Key routes such as Kuala Lumpur – Chengdu are expected to benefit from increased two-way travel demand.

Visa-free travel and tourism growth

The timing of the route relaunch aligns with the extension of mutual visa-free travel arrangements between Malaysia and China. These measures allow for longer stays and are expected to stimulate higher travel flows in both directions, benefiting tourism and trade.

Broader Malaysia–China cooperation

The relaunch of the Chengdu route also reflects the broader strength of Malaysia–China relations across the Malaysia Aviation Group ecosystem. This follows MASkargo’s recent special cargo operation transporting Malaysia’s new giant pandas from Chengdu to Kuala Lumpur under a renewed bilateral conservation agreement.

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New Airline Routes Boost Malaysia’s Connectivity Ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026

Airline confidence in Malaysia’s aviation market remained strong in November and December 2025, with multiple carriers launching new routes across the Malaysia Airports network, further strengthening the country’s position as a key aviation hub in Southeast Asia.

New international and regional routes launched

Several airlines expanded their networks with new services to and within Malaysia. Spring Airlines launched flights from Shanghai to Kuala Lumpur, followed by Xiamen Airlines introducing services from Hangzhou to Kuala Lumpur.

9 Air commenced flights linking Haikou with Kuching and Penang, while Hong Kong Express launched a new route connecting Hong Kong and Kota Kinabalu. TransNusa began operating flights between Jakarta and Penang, and Loong Air operated charter services from Shenzhen to Kuching.

Batik Air Malaysia further expanded its network with new services from Subang to Singapore, Jakarta, Kuala Namu, Kansai, Langkawi and Johor Bahru, as well as flights from Singapore to Ipoh and Penang, and a new international route between Tashkent and Langkawi.

Passenger traffic reflects growing demand

The expansion of airline networks was reflected in passenger traffic performance across Malaysia Airports. In November 2025, the local airport network recorded 8.7 million passenger movements, comprising 4.7 million international and 4.0 million domestic travellers.

KL International Airport (KLIA) handled 5.5 million passengers during the month, representing a 1% increase compared to October 2025. Including Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, total passenger movements across the Group reached 12.9 million in November.

Preparing for higher travel volumes

Malaysia Airports continues to focus on expanding air connectivity while improving airport efficiency in preparation for higher travel demand ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026. Close coordination with airline partners remains central to optimising schedules, managing capacity and ensuring smooth passenger flows.

Travel advice for peak periods

With school holidays and festive celebrations approaching, passengers are advised to allow extra time for check-in, security screening and baggage drop-off. Travellers using airport drop-off and pick-up zones should observe the 10-minute kerbside grace period.

Passengers are encouraged to use the MYAirports app for real-time flight updates and airport navigation, check travel documents and visa requirements in advance, and plan ahead for ground transportation, parking and boarding during peak travel periods.

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Batik Air Celebrates 10 Years of Connecting Perth and Malaysia

Batik Air Malaysia is celebrating a decade of operations between Perth and Malaysia, marking 10 years of continuous air connectivity between Western Australia and Southeast Asia.

A decade-long Perth–Malaysia connection

The milestone was commemorated on 20 November 2025 with special celebrations at Perth Airport, where Batik Air launched a series of anniversary activities including commemorative displays, passenger giveaways and on-the-day surprises.

The anniversary highlights Batik Air’s long-term commitment to providing reliable and convenient travel while strengthening links between Perth, Malaysia and the wider region.

Special anniversary promotion

To coincide with the celebrations, Batik Air introduced a limited-time promotional voucher valid for 72 hours. The FLYBATIKAIR promo code offers discounted fares across selected economy fare families.

  • Economy Value Fare – 10% off
  • Economy Flexi Fare – 15% off

The promotion is available for booking until 21 November 2025, for travel up to 30 March 2026, with blackout dates applying.

Strong partnership with Perth Airport

Perth Airport highlighted the long-standing partnership with Batik Air, noting that the airline’s entry into Perth marked its group’s first expansion into the Australian market. Over the past decade, the route has contributed to Malaysia becoming Western Australia’s fifth-largest international visitor market, generating significant visitor expenditure.

Current flight operations

Currently, Batik Air operates seven weekly direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and Perth, complemented by seven weekly one-stop services to Denpasar, Bali. The established schedule supports strong two-way demand from leisure travellers, students, business passengers and visiting friends and relatives.

The long-running Kuala Lumpur – Perth route continues to play a key role in linking Malaysia with Western Australia.

Looking ahead

Looking to the future, Batik Air aims to build a more connected and resilient network, offering passengers greater choice, comfort and consistency, while reinforcing Malaysia’s position as an important aviation gateway in the region.

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