The Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul is one of Turkiye's most visited sites. — MELODY L. GOH/The Star
Batik Air will be suspending all its flights to Istanbul, Turkiye, effective May 1, 2024, citing safety concerns.
An official statement from the airline reads: “This decision comes in response to the recent situation in the Middle East, which has significantly impacted the route we take, leading to the operational restrictions that make it challenging to continue the flights to the region.” Batik Air flies direct to the Istanbul Sabiha Gocken International Airport from Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1.
The company added that the safety of all passengers remains Batik Air's main priority, and therefore affected its decision to suspend operations. "The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remain our top priority, and this decision has been made after careful consideration of the prevailing situation. We understand the inconvenience this suspension may bring to our valued passengers, and we extend our heartfelt apologies for any disruption it may cause to their travel arrangements," said the statement.
The airline will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates when and if there are any.
Affected passengers will be notified via email and text messages, and refunds are available. To request for a refund, head to malindoair.com/Refund-Request.
For booking of other flights and more information, visit the Batik Air website at batikair.com.
