Indonesia’s carrier TransNusa is set to launch its inaugural flight to Penang International Airport (PIA) on November 24, 2025, marking another milestone in its regional expansion plans.
In anticipation of the new route, TransNusa CEO Dato’ Bernard Francis held a virtual briefing with media members to discuss the airline’s growth strategy and its continued regional expansion.
Based in Jakarta, TransNusa currently operates a fleet of 12 aircraft, including seven Airbus jets and five COMAC ARJ21-700 (C909) aircraft. The airline serves key destinations such as Perth, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Denpasar, Manado, Sorong, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur — with Penang becoming its latest addition this November.
The new Jakarta–Penang service will depart Jakarta at 5:30 a.m. and arrive in Penang at 10:00 a.m., offering passengers convenient access between the two major cities.
“Penang presents a strong alternative to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA),” Dato’ Bernard explained. “The island is well connected to China, India, and various Southeast Asian destinations, making it an ideal hub for both business and leisure travelers.”
He added that the Jakarta–Penang route is expected to achieve a load factor of 70–75 percent, reflecting robust demand — particularly from Indonesian medical tourists, for whom Penang remains the number-one destination.
“Penang has built world-class infrastructure to support medical tourism, and its close cultural and geographic ties with Indonesia make it a natural choice for expansion,” he noted.
Unlike low-cost carriers, TransNusa positions itself as a premium airline, focusing on comfort, convenience, and quality service. The airline also plans to introduce a third daily flight to Singapore, which will operate from Terminal 3 at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, as part of its broader regional connectivity strategy.
TransNusa is currently focusing its growth on five key markets — Malaysia, China, Australia, and Singapore, which are among the top sources of visitors to Indonesia. The airline’s primary hubs remain Jakarta, Bali, and Manado.
Dato’ Bernard described 2025 as “an exciting year of expansion” for TransNusa, adding that the airline aims to maintain this momentum into 2026. “We’re exploring opportunities in other Malaysian destinations — perhaps Sabah and Sarawak in the future — and we continue to work closely with Tourism Malaysia in support of Visit Malaysia Year 2026,” he said.
With the upcoming Penang route, TransNusa reinforces its commitment to strengthening air connectivity between Indonesia and Malaysia, promoting tourism and supporting the growing demand for premium regional travel.