By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 10: Batik Air’s proposed direct flights from Subang Airport to Miri and Sibu could take off by the end of this year, subject to regulatory approval.
Sarawak Minister for Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said the proposed services would come at a timely period, with passenger demand expected to rise during the Christmas festive season, new school term and Chinese New Year.
Batik Air Head of Sales (Commercial) Arasu Soundarajan raised the proposed routes during a courtesy call on Lee yesterday (Sept 9), saying they were currently awaiting regulatory approval.
“Subject to approval, the services are expected to commence as early as the end of 2026 or by early 2027,” Lee said.
The proposed Subang–Miri route is planned to operate four times weekly, while Subang–Sibu would operate three times weekly.
Lee welcomed the airline’s plan to expand its Sarawak network and urged Batik Air to also consider intra-Sarawak routes linking Kuching with Miri, Sibu and Bintulu.
“At present, these three direct intra-Sarawak routes are served by AirAsia. There is demand, and people have also requested for more choices,” he said.
He said greater airline participation would provide travellers with more choices in terms of flight schedules and fares, while strengthening connectivity between Sarawak’s major cities.
Lee also proposed that Batik Air study direct international services from Miri to southern China, particularly Guangzhou and Shenzhen, citing potential demand from northern Sarawak and neighbouring Brunei.
Batik Air said it would study the feasibility of the proposed intra-Sarawak and international routes, with scheduled charter flights potentially serving as an initial way to develop new international markets.
Arasu cited the airline’s Kuching–Guangzhou scheduled charter flights, which recorded encouraging passenger loads, as an example of how demand for new international routes could be developed.
The proposed Subang–Miri service would also mark Batik Air’s return to the Miri market after its Kuala Lumpur–Miri route was suspended in March 2026 amid aircraft availability, fleet constraints and higher aviation fuel costs.
Batik Air had resumed the Kuala Lumpur–Miri service on Jan 14, 2025, following engagement between the airline and the Ministry, initially operating two flights daily before reducing the frequency to one flight daily. — DayakDaily
