KUCHING: Air connectivity between Bintulu and Kuala Lumpur is set to improve with Batik Air confirming an additional daily service on the route from July 20, increasing the frequency to two flights a day.
Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said the additional service follows discussions with the airline to address public concerns over limited flight availability and rising airfares.
“I am pleased to announce that following active communication and coordination with the airline, Batik Air has confirmed it will add a new daily flight between Bintulu and Kuala Lumpur starting July 20 this year.
“With this addition, the route will increase to two daily flights, providing passengers with more diverse and convenient travel options,” he said in a statement posted on his Facebook page.
Under the revised schedule, flights from Kuala Lumpur to Bintulu will depart at 10 am and 2.30 pm daily, while flights from Bintulu to Kuala Lumpur will depart at 1.10 pm and 5.40 pm.
Tiong said he had initially pushed for two additional daily flights but, following negotiations, the airline agreed to first introduce one fixed daily service while monitoring passenger demand.
“If passenger demand continues to grow, the feasibility of adding another flight will be further evaluated, potentially increasing the frequency to three flights a day,” he said.
He said that Bintulu’s continued economic growth has driven higher demand for air travel, particularly for business, education, medical treatment and tourism.
“I have directly conveyed the growing appeals from various sectors of our society for sufficient flights and reasonable airfares to the airline, and they have responded positively,” he added.
Tiong also urged Batik Air to maintain reliable flight operations as services expand, stressing that passengers should not be inconvenienced by frequent cancellations or last-minute schedule changes.
“I have suggested that they maintain reasonably priced airfares as much as market conditions allow. This is vital to ease the financial burden on the public travelling between the two locations and to prevent high ticket prices from becoming a long-term strain.
“I firmly believe that as ticket prices gradually stabilise, it will help drive growth in passenger traffic, creating a win-win situation for both the airline and its passengers,” he said.
He emphasised that improving aviation services requires close cooperation between the government, airlines and relevant authorities, adding that the public expects tangible improvements in flight availability and affordable fares rather than promises alone.
“The increase in flights will not only help alleviate the current supply shortage but will also further facilitate Bintulu residents travelling to and from Peninsular Malaysia and other domestic destinations, meeting our ever-growing demand for travel,” he said.
