Malaysia is fast becoming a top destination for medical tourism in South-East Asia, with an increasing number of travellers from neighbouring countries coming into the country for health, wellness and medical purposes.
With this in mind, local airlines have also added more routes and flights to their South-East Asia network, making things more convenient for overseas patients and travellers.
Recently, Batik Air, Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) and Tourism Malaysia announced that they are partnering on a campaign to support the country’s medical tourism industry. The campaign, “Fly High with a Healthy Heart”, focuses on travellers from overseas who are looking at seeking treatment or care at IJN.
Through this campaign, passengers travelling with Batik Air can get a discount on selected health screening packages at IJN. And it’s easy too – all you need to do is show a valid boarding pass.
At the same time, cardiovascular and thoracic patients from overseas who are already planning to go for treatment at the hospital can also enjoy a discount on flights – but they would need an official appointment letter from the hospital for this.
Batik Air’s chief executive officer Datuk Chandran Rama Muthy said in a press statement: “Malaysia continues to strengthen its position as one of the key healthcare travel destinations in the region, while within Asean, Thailand remains the leader, receiving over three million medical travellers annually,” he said.
The partnership will run till April 30, 2027. For more information, head to the airline’s official website.
French connections
Meanwhile, Malaysia Airlines has partnered with France’s national rail operator, SNCF Voyageurs, to offer seamless air-and-rail travel between Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, and 28 destinations across France.
Available through SNCF Voyageurs’ “train and air” service, the partnership allows passengers flying into Paris to continue their journey by high-speed train under a single booking. Tickets are already available for booking through the Malaysia Airlines website.
The codeshare arrangement gives travellers easier access to French cities including Lyon, Strasbourg, Rennes, Lille and Marseille, with coordinated connections and simplified transfers.
Malaysia Airlines said the partnership is part of its MHrail initiative, which aims to expand integrated air and rail travel at major international gateways and provide passengers with a smoother journey.
Some of the railway stations that are included in the partnership are Aix En Provence TGV, Angers Saint-Laud, Bordeaux Saint-Jean, Champagne TGV, Avignon TGV, Lyon Saint-Exupery, Montpellier, TGV Haute Picardie and Lille Flandres.
For the full list, check out the airline’s official website or app.
