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AIRASIA, the airline operated by AirAsia Thailand with flight code (FD), is now launching a direct route from Phuket, Thailand to Medan. The new service will commence on June 27, 2025 and will operate four times a week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
According to Tansita Akraritpirom, Head of Commercial for Thai AirAsia, said the flight is expected to contribute to the improvement of the tourism sector and economy of both countries.
“Phuket continues to develop as a leading travel hub in the region and we are committed to strengthening its connectivity,” Tansita said in a written statement, explaining that over the past year, AirAsia has been actively expanding its international network to and from Phuket, including new direct flights to India and various ASEAN countries.
Tansita explained that this Phuket-Medan route is a strategic step to reach new tourism markets while strengthening our operational base in Phuket. Now travelers have more reasons to explore destinations other than Bangkok, with direct access to Indonesia’s rich culture and natural beauty.
Meanwhile, AirAsia’s Head of Indonesia Affairs & Policy, Eddy Krismeidi Soemawilaga, added that the opening of this route is a very positive opportunity, not only in supporting international connectivity from Medan. But also as a strategic step to develop cross-country tourism.
Phuket is the largest island in Thailand and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia. Famous for its beautiful beaches, vibrant nightlife and diverse marine activities, Phuket attracts millions of tourists each year.
According to data from statista.com, in 2024, Phuket recorded the arrival of more than 11.3 million tourists, generating more than 388 billion baht in revenue for the local economy. Meanwhile, Medan is the largest city outside of Java and has a very distinctive cultural, historical and culinary richness.
Medan is also the main gateway to Lake Toba, the largest volcanic lake in the world, surrounded by lush green mountains. Medan is also known as a multicultural city, with a blend of Batak, Malay, Chinese, Indian and Javanese cultures that enrich the tourist experience.
In addition, the capital of North Sumatra Province has also become one of the destination cities in Thailand’s official tourism promotion program, such as the “Amazing Thailand Road Show to Indonesia 2024”, which shows Thailand’s strong interest and commitment in building cultural and tourism ties with this city.
Based on data from the North Sumatra Central Statistics Agency (BPS), in 2024, 250, 413 foreign tourists visited this area, the number of foreign tourists who came increased by 26.32% compared to the previous year. [sources/photo special]
