Despite the current hike in jet fuel prices due to the Middle East crisis, Batik Air is forging ahead with plans to offer direct flights between Batam island in Indonesia and Penang with effect Oct 18, 2026.
Sharing more details on the much welcomed new route was Penang State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy YB Wong Hon Wai.
“We recently received notification from Batik Air regarding the opening of a direct flight route between Batam, Indonesia and Penang. The inaugural flight is expected to arrive in Penang on October 18, 2026, while ticket bookings for the route are now open via Batik Air’s official website.
“The route would be the first scheduled direct air link in Penang’s history connecting Batam and Penang, adding another link to Penang’s international flight network while further strengthening air connectivity between Penang and Indonesia. The new route will also provide a more convenient and efficient air link for people-to-people movement, cultural exchanges, tourism and economic ties between Malaysia and Indonesia.
“With the opening of this new route, ties between Penang and Indonesia will become even closer. At the same time, it creates new opportunities for Penang to expand its Indonesian market and strengthen regional tourism cooperation among ASEAN countries,” he said.
For the Batam-Penang route, Batik Air flight OD359 will operate its inaugural service on October 18, 2026, departing from Hang Nadim International Airport (BTH) at 11.30am local time and arriving at Penang International Airport (PEN) at 1.55pm Penang time.
Meanwhile, the direct Penang-Batam service, flight OD358, will also begin operations on October 18, departing Penang International Airport at 10.10am Penang time and arriving at Hang Nadim International Airport at 10.50am Batam time. The round-trip route between Penang and Batam will operate three times a week.
“The opening of the direct Batam-Penang route by Batik Air would not only benefit residents of Batam, but also carry broader strategic significance. Through Hang Nadim International Airport, Penang will now be connected to an air network serving the wider Riau Islands.
“The opening of this route is not merely about connecting Penang with Batam. It also creates opportunities for Penang to tap into new regional tourism markets in the Riau Islands. This is an important step in expanding our Indonesian tourism market base and exploring new sources of tourists with significant potential,” he said.
He added that, to date, major Indonesian cities that have become established tourism markets for Penang include Medan, Jakarta, Surabaya and Banda Aceh.
“With the opening of the direct Batam-Penang route, Penang now has an opportunity to extend its reach into the Riau Islands region of Indonesia. Batam is located about 30km south of Singapore and can be reached from Singapore by ferry in about 45 minutes. It is one of the key economic, industrial, commercial and tourism centres in the Riau Islands.
“Its strategic location, close to Singapore and within the regional connectivity triangle of Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, also makes it an important gateway for the movement of people and regional economic activity.
“Therefore, for Penang, this route is not simply another flight destination. It opens a new window for us to explore the Riau Islands market in Indonesia,” he said.
“Indonesia had long been one of Penang’s key international tourism markets, with Indonesian tourist arrivals consistently ranking first among Penang’s international tourism markets. For example, between January and July 2026, a total of 201,657 Indonesian tourists entered Penang through Penang International Airport, compared with 192,823 during the same period in 2025, representing an increase of 4.58%,” added Wong.
He said the figures showed that Indonesian tourist arrivals to Penang were not only substantial in scale, but continued to record steady growth, underscoring the importance and continued potential of the Indonesian market for Penang’s tourism industry.
“The Penang tourism industry has previously worked to ensure that market coverage across Indonesia is comprehensive and extensive. However, as we deepen our presence in the Indonesian market, it is time to take another step forward by further refining our strategy, strengthening our existing foundation and exploring markets in regional cities and surrounding areas in greater depth.
“This approach will allow us not only to retain traditional markets, but also to unlock and maximise the potential of new tourist sources in Indonesia. The opening of the direct Batam-Penang route comes at the right time as it provides another strategic focal point for Penang to expand its Indonesian market.
“By leveraging Batam as a gateway with regional reach, Penang can seize this opportunity to expand from a single point into a wider market, while further extending air connectivity across the Riau Islands. In other words, we are not merely strengthening what we already have, but continuing to explore new opportunities and opening a new chapter for Penang’s tourism industry in Indonesia,” he said.
Wong also shared that the upcoming direct Batam-Penang route had strong potential to support the growth of Penang’s medical tourism sector.
“With its comprehensive medical facilities, professional healthcare services and mature medical tourism ecosystem, it has already become an important destination for medical travellers from Indonesia. At the same time, Batam’s proximity to Singapore and its close links with neighbouring countries provide a strong foundation for Penang to explore the medical tourism market in the Riau Islands.
“Compared with conventional leisure tourism, medical tourism has a broader economic impact. A traveller coming to Penang for medical treatment is often accompanied by family members or friends. During their stay in Penang, they also spend on accommodation, food and beverages, transportation, shopping, as well as tourism and recreational activities.
“Therefore, a medical traveller does not only generate spending related to medical treatment, but can also create a chain of expenditure benefiting hotels, food and beverage businesses, transportation, retail and tourism.
“With direct air connectivity between Batam and Penang, we have room to further unlock the potential of the Riau Islands medical tourism market and convert passenger flows into broader economic benefits and tourism expenditure,” he said.
Wong also said the opening of the Batam-Penang route would add another important component to Penang’s Southeast Asian air connectivity network.
“At a time when international tourism markets are facing various uncertainties, the importance of short-haul ASEAN markets cannot be underestimated. For Penang’s tourism industry, ASEAN is not only a nearby and easily accessible regional market, but also an important source of tourists supporting the stability of our tourism industry.
“Therefore, we need to continue strengthening our existing ASEAN markets while exploring new cities, new tourist segments and new air links to further expand and strengthen Penang’s air connectivity network in Southeast Asia.
“The route will help Penang strengthen its ASEAN air connectivity, expand its presence in the Indonesian market, create a more conducive environment for closer Southeast Asian tourism cooperation, and enhance people-to-people movement and economic ties between the two regions,” he said.
That’s fantastic news for travelers wanting to explore both Penang and Batam. It will be great to have that direct connection established.