MELAKA: Malindo Air is expected to introduce two new routes to Kota Bharu and Langkawi from the Melaka International Airport (LTAM) in Batu Berendam here from March 1.
The Melaka public works, transport and public facilities exco, Datuk Mohd Sofi Abdul Wahab said the two-way flights would operate thrice weekly on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
He said this Malindo Air initiative would assist in enhancing the state’s tourism industry by attracting more domestic and overseas tourists in conjunction with the Visit Melaka Year 2019.
“This news was confirmed by the management of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd and Malindo Air, while being much awaited by the people of Melaka and those keen on visiting the two destinations easily and in a timely manner,” he told a media conference here today.
Malindo Air had previously offered flights to Kota Bharu from the LTAM, but this was stopped, as the company faced a shortage of aircraft.
At present, the airline has flights out of the LTAM to Pekan Baru, Indonesia and Penang.
Elaborating further, Mohd Sofi said the flight from Kota Bharu to Melaka is at 11.55 am and leaves Melaka for Kota Bharu at 1.50 pm. The flight from Langkawi to Melaka takes off at 12.05 pm and leaves Melaka for Langkawi at 2.05 pm.
He said the increase in routes by Malindo Air via the LTAM is seen as a positive move towards attracting more airlines to operate from the airport and the state government was offering various incentives towards this.
“We hope after this, Air Asia will introduce at least one potential route, among them being to either Langkawi, Penang, Pekan Baru and Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei from the LTAM, by the latest in the third quarter of this year,” he added. – Bernama
