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KUALA LUMPUR — Building on the strong response during the Chinese New Year travel period, Batik Air officially launches its direct service between Penang and Johor Bahru today, 18 March 2026, further enhancing connectivity between the northern and southern regions of Peninsular Malaysia.
The new service will operate daily flights, offering travellers a faster and more convenient way to travel between two of the country’s most vibrant economic and tourism centres.
The introduction of the route follows encouraging demand observed during the recent Chinese New Year travel period, when additional flights between Penang and Johor Bahru were introduced to accommodate the surge of passengers returning home for festive reunions. The strong response highlighted the growing need for more direct domestic connections beyond Kuala Lumpur.
Penang International Airport handled 741,183 passenger movements in January 2026, reaffirming its status as one of Malaysia’s busiest aviation gateways behind Kuala Lumpur International Airport, while Johor Bahru’s Senai International Airport continues to build momentum as a vital gateway to southern Malaysia and the wider Johor region.
By establishing a permanent direct link between the two cities, Batik Air aims to facilitate greater travel flows between the northern and southern corridors of the peninsula, supporting tourism, business mobility and regional economic activity while offering travellers a convenient alternative to long overland journeys.
Batik Air Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Chandran Rama Muthy said the launch of the Penang–Johor Bahru service reflects the airline’s commitment to strengthening Malaysia’s domestic air network in line with evolving travel patterns.
“These two cities play important roles in Malaysia’s tourism, trade and business landscape, and this service brings them closer together while making travel more seamless for passengers,” he said.
As Malaysia advances into Visit Malaysia Year 2026, Datuk Chandran noted that strengthening domestic connectivity remains a key priority in supporting the nation’s tourism ambitions and economic momentum.
“Batik Air will continue to explore opportunities to expand routes that improve accessibility between key regions across Malaysia. The Penang–Johor Bahru service marks another step in building a more connected domestic network that supports tourism growth, business exchanges and greater mobility for travellers,” he added.
For more information and to plan your next journey, download Batik Air mobile app or visit www.batikair.com
The post Batik Air Expands Domestic Network with Direct Flights Between Penang and Johor appeared first on The Malaysian Reserve.

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