January 23, 2026 | 03:38 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Hang Nadim International Airport in Batam is expanding its air connectivity network by opening the Batam-Jambi domestic route and the Batam-Kuala Lumpur international route, scheduled to commence in early 2026. This addition is part of the efforts to enhance community mobility, boost tourism growth, and drive the region's economy.
Annang Setia Budhi, the President Director of PT Batam International Airport, stated that the addition of new routes responds to the evolving needs of service users and the burgeoning market potential. "We hope that the Batam-Jambi route and vice versa can offer more flight options and have a positive impact on the business and tourism sectors, as well as streamline the travel flow for service users," he said on Thursday, January 22, 2025.
The Batam-Jambi-Batam route is serviced by Sriwijaya Air four times a week, specifically on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. The airline flies Boeing 737-800 aircraft with a seating capacity of 162 to 189 passengers.
Previously, the Batam-Jambi route was also serviced by Super Air Jet using A320 aircraft with a frequency of five times a week. With the additional flights by Sriwijaya Air, the total frequency of the Batam-Jambi route now stands at nine times a week.
The BIB management believes that the increased frequency will strengthen air services and connectivity, supporting the economic growth of the region. BIB also expressed its commitment to coordinate with airlines and relevant stakeholders to provide safe, comfortable, and sustainable flight services, and encouraged the public to book tickets through official airline channels or trusted travel agents.
In addition to domestic routes, air connectivity is being bolstered through the opening of the Batam-Kuala Lumpur international route. On January 21, 2026, PT Batam International Airport, in collaboration with AirAsia Malaysia, officially announced the opening of a new international route connecting Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) to Hang Nadim International Airport Batam (BTH). This route is scheduled to commence operations on March 13, 2026, with a daily flight frequency.
The opening of the Kuala Lumpur-Batam route is part of AirAsia Malaysia's strategy to expand its international flight network in the Southeast Asia region and strengthen air connectivity between Indonesia and Malaysia. Batam is seen as a potential market with stable passenger growth, catering to tourism, business segments, and onward connectivity to various international destinations.
Through this route, passengers to and from Batam will have direct access to Kuala Lumpur as one of the main hubs of the AirAsia Group. The route also opens up opportunities for onward connectivity to various popular international destinations in the AirAsia Group's network, including Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Almaty, Istanbul, and several other cities.
The flight schedule for this route includes flight AK 472 from Kuala Lumpur to Batam departing at 08:05 a.m. local time and arriving at 10:15 a.m. local time, as well as flight AK 471 from Batam to Kuala Lumpur departing at 08:45 a.m. local time and arriving at 10:55 a.m. local time. With a travel time of approximately one hour and ten minutes, this route is expected to be an efficient, affordable, and comfortable air travel alternative for the citizens of both countries.
In conjunction with the opening of this international route, AirAsia Malaysia is also offering promotional fares for travel between March 13 and October 24, 2026, subject to applicable terms and conditions. Further information regarding final flight schedules and ticket sales can be obtained through official AirAsia channels.
Annang Setia Budhi stated that the opening of the Batam-Kuala Lumpur route indicates a positive trend of public interest in international flights from Batam. He believes that the presence of this route will significantly contribute to the increase in international passenger traffic, the strengthening of the tourism sector, and the stimulation of economic growth and investment in the Riau Islands region, especially in Batam City.
Read: Malaysia Passport: 2nd in SE Asia, 9th Globally Surpassing US
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