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BATIK AIR Malaysia airline officially opened a direct flight service from Palembang-Kuala Lumpur’s (KL) route from Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin (SMB) II International Airport Palembang starting Friday (9/12), 2025. This service became an international flight to the second Kuala Lumpur available at SMB II Palembang Airport, after being served by AirAsia.
According to the Corporate Communications Strategic of Batik Air Danang Mandala Prihantoro revealed, the opening of the direct flight route in Palembang-Kuala Lumpur and vice versa in line with the potential in the city.
“In addition to Palembang, the potential that was seeded from Palembang was a different geographical location compared to other cities. The Palembang-Kuala Lumpur route and vice versa, is able to connect more than 40 countries or 40 cities to Palembang with transit or integrated through Kuala Lumpur,” he said.
Thus, it can minimize the time that must be taken by passengers as business visitors, tourists and for other purposes.
“There are from countries and cities in India, Sri Lanka, then there are Dubai, there are Japan, there are China, South Korea, and other cities,” Danang said after welcoming the arrival of the inaugural passengers of the Kuala-Ludu Aviation Service at SMB II Palembang, Friday (9/12), 2025.
He added, although in this inaugural flight new passenger occupancy was around 90%, but his party was optimistic that it could penetrate 100% occupancy on subsequent flights.
This is in line with various aspects in the city of Palembang which is very supportive ranging from services at the airport, economy, socio -cultural and culinary.
“Our target is 100%occupancy, because the potential of the Palembang market is very large in opportunities, moreover land transportation here has also been integrated such as LRT,” he explained.
The Batik Air Malaysia service at SMB II Palembang will be available 4 times a week. Among them on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
In the same place, General Manager of SMB II Palembang International Airport R. Iwan Winaya Mahdar said that since the return of international flights at the airport the community was very high.
This can be seen from the AirAsia airline flight which has been operating since July 18 with a load factor above 90%. As for the Batik Air Malaysia airline today the number of passengers is 150 people from a total of 162 available seats.
“So load factors [today] above 90%, and tomorrow will depart more or less passengers above 135. Yes, hopefully in the future both from the inbound and outbound side are as expected,” he said.
Acting Head of South Sumatra Culture and Tourism Office, Pandji Tjahjanto added that currently the realization of tourist visits to the region has reached 16 million. Until the end of the year, we are optimistic that the number of tourists who travel to South Sumatra can penetrate the numbers of 22 to 23 million people.
“Previously our target was at least 10% of the realization of the previous year. But we are optimistic that until the end of the year it can be 22 or 23 million people,” he concluded. [sources/photo special]
