The number of airlines flying between Melbourne and Kuala Lumpur will rise to three when Batik Air introduces year-round flights in July.
Melbourne Airport said the Malaysian full-service airline, which is part of Indonesia’s Lion Air group and flies to Melbourne seasonally, would operate four times a week using a 377 seat Airbus A330-300, with 12 seats in business class and 365 in economy.
Batik will join Malaysia Airlines and Air Asia in flying between the Malaysian capital and Australia’s most populous city, supplementing the carrier’s daily flights between Melbourne Airport and Bali.
Melbourne Airport Chief Executive Officer Lorie Argus said Batik Air’s year-round service would provide more choice for Victorians heading abroad and international students and visitors looking to visit Melbourne.
“Having three airline groups offering year-round service between Melbourne and Kuala Lumpur makes this route more competitive than most Australian domestic routes,” Argus said in a media release.
“Batik Air prides itself on being a premium carrier and serves more than 70 destinations across India and Southeast Asia, and we are confident both inbound and outbound travellers will welcome the extra choice.
“To keep pace with demand, we’re working with our airlines to deliver an expansion of the international terminal, and a third runway to ensure our airfield has the capacity to serve Victoria’s growing population.”
Kuala Lumpur is a popular destination in its own right and an important transit hub for passengers heading to India or other destinations in Southeast Asia.
Melbourne Airport welcomed 2,729,545 airline passengers, including 930,356 international travellers, to its terminals in February, which was 5% below February 2024, due to a 7% drop in domestic passengers.
American singer Taylor Swift drew a total of 200,000 people to her four sold-out Melbourne Eras tour concerts from 16-19 February 2024.
“With no Taylor Swift or leap year this year, domestic passenger numbers were down on February 2024,” the airport said.
