COME this Oct 20, AirAsia Malaysia will begin a new direct flight route from Bali (Denpasar) to Penang.
The international route was the result of the Memorandum of Collaboration signed between Penang Global Tourism (PGT) and AirAsia back in August this year.
Penang Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said the Penang-Bali direct flight route is also Malaysia’s first new direct flight international route by AirAsia, post-Covid-19 pandemic.
“This newly launched twice-weekly flight will add to AirAsia Malaysia’s vast frequency into Penang, with 156 flights weekly. This is the seventh international destination to Penang from the AirAsia Group.
“Including AirAsia, there are now 518 domestic and international flights arriving and departing from the Penang International Airport weekly.
“We are happy to have Bali as a new destination from Penang. Bali is a popular destination among travellers. It is a living postcard and an Indonesian paradise,” he told a media conference in Komtar today.
Yeoh said the new Penang-Bali direct route would allow Penang to tap into the Australian market.
“Australians were among the Top Five travellers in Penang before the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Studies have shown that the leading international tourist arrivals in Bali are the Australians. We can welcome Australian travellers back to Penang through this direct flight connectivity.
“Penang, as a growing business and tourism hub surrounded by the beach, may encourage airlines to explore the possibility of developing a new route between Penang and Australia.
“As we look to gain a greater percentage of inbound travellers from high-growth countries, we must also continue to sustain our traditional tourist markets, including Indonesia, Singapore, China, and Thailand.
“Hence, the Penang-Bali direct route is timely, in line with the state’s Tourism Master Plan to further position Penang as a key regional tourist hub,” he said.
AirAsia Malaysia commercial head Liyana Mahizzan said the announcement at the media conference was AirAsia’s testament to elevate Penang as a preferred tourism destination in the region.
“Penang is our second largest hub in Malaysia, with the most capacity of international flight frequencies overall.
“This is an exciting time to travel. Not only will this new direct route offer a seamless journey for our guests, but it will also boost regional inbound tourism and support the local economy in both countries – Malaysia and Indonesia,” she said.
Indonesia consul-general in Penang Bambang Suharto welcomed the Penang-Bali new direct flight route.
“With the new direct flight route, I believe it will bring a significant contribution to the development of the tourism industry in Bali and Penang.
“As we know, Penang and Bali have similarities and are well-known for their tourist attractions.
“The opening of this new route will benefit both Bali and Penang,” he said.
Also present was PGT chief executive officer Ooi Chok Yan.
For more details, visit @flyairasia on Instagram or @airasia on Twitter.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Siew Chia En