7 July 2023
Adelaide Airport has today welcomed the first Batik Air Malaysia nonstop flight from Kuala Lumpur.
The key to Australia’s aviation recovery is not just about the major Chinese carriers returning, but the sector also needs all the other overseas carriers back to return to 100% of pre-COVID levels.
While Sydney and Melbourne have large domestic markets to support them, the other main capital city airports, such as Adelaide, Brisbane, and Perth, rely on international air services to return, as does the tourism industry in those locations.
New Beginnings at Adelaide Airport
That’s why Adelaide Airport (ADL) enthusiastically welcomed Batik Air Malaysia’s first nonstop flight from Kuala Lumpur this morning.
Before being renamed Batik Air Malaysia, Malindo Air operated a service from Kuala Lumpur to Adelaide with a stop in Bali, which is why today’s arrival is a significant win for the Airport and the State of South Australia.
Today’s flight left Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) close to an hour late at 00:16 and was operated with a 2017 Boeing 737 MAX 8, registration 9M-LRR and MSN 42990. Flight OD121 arrived at Adelaide Airport at 08:20 after a 6:34 hour trip and departed again at 10:23, this time as OD122. It is due to arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 16:41 local time.
Adelaide Airport Managing Director Brenton Cox said the Batik Air Malaysia service would help to grow the South Australian market, particularly in the tourism, business, and international student sectors. He added:
“Malaysia is a strong long term market for travel to and from Adelaide. It’s fantastic news to welcome another airline flying between our two great cities and links Adelaide into Asia through Batik’s considerable network.
“It offers connections through Kuala Lumpur across its network for travellers wanting to continue to other destinations throughout South East Asia, China, Japan and India.”
The new service will operate three times weekly, with flights scheduled to leave KUL at 23:10 on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday and arrive in Adelaide at 07:50 on Wednesday, Friday, and Monday. The return schedule sees the return flight leaving ADL at 08:40 and arriving in Kuala Lumpur at 14:55.
Benefits flow both ways
Group strategy director for Batik Air and Lion Air Group Datuk Chandran Rama Muthy said there has been strong demand for the new service, which is a timely boost for tourism in Australia. He added:
“We must say that Adelaide is a popular destination among Asians, not just for leisure and tourism, but also for studying and visiting family and friends.
“On the other hand, the passengers from Adelaide have the option to fly to Kuala Lumpur with Batik Air and access to network connectivity such as to ASEAN destinations, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, China, Japan, Korea and many more.”
According to Planespotters.net, Batik Air has a fleet of 33 aircraft, including 16 Boeing 737 MAX 8s and eight 737-800s. As Batik Air is part of the Lion Air Group, some of its MAX aircraft formerly operated with the parent airline.
Today’s aircraft was first delivered to Lion Air in July 2017 and withdrawn from service in March 2019.
It then sat idle at several locations until August 2022, when it entered service with Batik Air.
It is configured in a one-class economy layout of 180 seats and, at six years old, is one of the oldest 737 MAXs in the airline’s fleet.
Source: simpleflying.com
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