JAKARTA: (Bernama) A new direct flight route connecting Jakarta and Kota Bharu is set to commence operations on June 16, marking the first direct air link between Indonesia’s capital and the east coast state of Malaysia.
Indonesia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Arif Havas Oegroseno, described the planned route as strategically important in strengthening ties between secondary cities and regions in Southeast Asia amid growing global economic uncertainty.
"I think this is a very good opportunity. I want to see this as not just an economic opportunity, but a strategic relationship as well,” he said during the opening of the ‘Kelantan Day’ programme together with Kelantan Menteri Besar Mohd Nassuruddin Daud, here, on Thursday (May 14).
Arif Havas said relations within the region had long been centred on capital cities such as Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Bangkok, while connectivity between provinces and states remained underdeveloped.
He said the direct route would facilitate tourism, strengthen people-to-people ties, support small-scale industries, encourage cross-border investments and enhance halal industry cooperation between Indonesia and Malaysia.
The deputy minister also described Kelantan as strategically located due to its proximity to southern Thailand, saying the state had the potential to emerge as a regional hub connecting parts of Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Arif Havas said the route was initially planned to operate four times weekly, adding that the frequency could be increased in the future depending on demand.
He also expressed hope that additional direct connections, such as the Kelantan-Surabaya and Kelantan-Bali routes, could eventually be introduced.
Meanwhile, Mohd Nassuruddin said the new connectivity would strengthen tourism, trade, medical travel and cultural exchanges between Kelantan and Indonesia.
He said the route would support Kelantan’s efforts to attract more international visitors, particularly from Indonesia, while positioning the state as a gateway for Islamic tourism, cultural heritage, gastronomy and medical tourism.
"Tourism should not be viewed solely as an economic and commercial activity, but also as a bridge that strengthens ties among us,” he said.
He said Kelantan received 10 million tourists in 2024, before the figure increased to 11 million last year, reflecting growing interest in the state’s tourism products.
He said Sultan Ismail Petra Airport had also recently undergone a major upgrade and now has the capacity to handle up to four million passengers annually.
On March 10, AirAsia Malaysia announced the expansion of its Indonesia network with the launch of its 20th route to the country, connecting Kota Bharu to Jakarta.
The airline said this new expansion supports the state’s goal of attracting 12 million domestic and international tourists this year.
It also aligns with the national target of welcoming 4.6 million Indonesian visitors as part of the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026) campaign.
The service will operate four times weekly between Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Kota Baru and Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta using Airbus A320 aircraft, with flights scheduled every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. - Bernama
