PETALING JAYA: When Batik Air Malaysia began operations in 2013, it had only two aircraft as part of its fleet.
Then known as Malindo Air before being rebranded in 2022, the carrier started out with a focus on domestic routes such as Penang, Johor Baru, Langkawi, Kota Baru, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.
Come 2026, however, Batik Air Malaysia has not only continued to fly, but in fact, soared to greater heights, boasting a fleet of more than 50 aircraft including seven A330, with the rest being the B737 MAX/NG models.
There are also plans to add another 10 aircraft to the fleet by the end of the year, with the airline having since expanded its footprint across Asia, the Middle East and Australia.
“We went international. Our first destination was Bangladesh and later moved on to Indonesia and China.
“Today, we fly to 21 countries and as far as Japan and Dubai with our network continuing to evolve as new opportunities emerge,” said Batik Air Malaysia chief executive officer Datuk Chandran Rama Muthy (pic) in an interview.
Currently, he said Batik Air Malaysia operates to more than 60 destinations globally, with among the new routes set to be launched being Colombo alongside Penang to Johor Baru and Kuala Lumpur to Banda Aceh.
Routes to Shanghai, China and several destinations in Indonesia are also coming soon.
“This reflects the airline’s role in supporting both leisure and business travel, while strengthening regional and international connectivity,” he said.
Batik Air Malaysia, Chandran said, brought in more than nine million passengers to Malaysia and beyond last year.
“This includes passengers coming from India, then travelling to Australia via Malaysia.
“There are also those who fly in from Indonesia, then to Japan and Korea, among other destinations,” he said.
Reflecting on Batik Air Malaysia’s growth, Chandran said they can now proudly say the airline is now a household name among consumers.
“Our domestic offerings have grown. Based on our research, we also found that those looking to travel will also check the rates offered by our airline. This makes us proud as it shows how far we have come and that we are able to stand in the same league with other leading airlines.
“We will work hard to sustain this and bring the brand to greater heights as well,” he said.
Reflecting on the various challenges throughout Batik Air Malaysia’s 13-year journey so far, Chandran recalled how the Covid-19 pandemic posed a challenging situation for the airline.
Another challenge, he said, was always striving to ensure the staff are continuously motivated and on the same page.
“Managing a huge and growing workforce has never been an easy task.
“We always work to cultivate a positive work culture both physically and mentally so we can all achieve greater things.”
In line with its 13th anniversary, Chandran said among other upcoming destinations are direct flights to Sydney and Melbourne, alongside increased flight frequency to East Malaysia destinations.
He added that the airline’s aspirations were always to realise the Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s status as a major regional hub.
“Our country is geographically blessed to sit strategically between big hubs while also being traditionally appealing to tourists,” he said, noting Malaysia’s proximity to neighbouring countries such as Singapore and fast-rising Indonesia.
“With all that, it’s always a boost to grow internationally in tandem with a focus on the domestic market which facilitates business travel, student movements, visiting loved ones and more.
“Focusing on the international market too can boost the tourism market which carries over to our economy as well,” said Chandran.
He also noted that promotions are constantly available for flight tickets, including the fixed fare flights offered during festive celebrations.
On Visit Malaysia 2026, Chandran said a memorandum of collaboration signed with Tourism Malaysia will see Malaysia being heavily promoted in all destinations taken by Batik Air.
“It’s mainly through advertisements and also collaborations with travel agents to create more products, price points and more,” he said.
Chandran also stressed that the focus of Batik Air Malaysia is always to improve its service.
“We always want our passengers to be treated the way they would want to be treated. That is our motto.
“We are an airline with a heart,” he said.
