By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, March 12: Batik Air Malaysia is set to introduce new flights from Sarawak to Zhangjiajie and Kunming this year, while a scheduled international charter service between Kuching and Guangzhou will commence operations on March 17.
The development was shared during a meeting between Sarawak Minister of Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin and Batik Air Malaysia chief executive officer Datuk Chandran Rama Muthy in Sepang Office on Monday (March 9).
According to Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news today, the meeting highlighted ongoing collaboration between the Sarawak Ministry of Transport (MOTS) and Batik Air Malaysia to strengthen air connectivity between Sarawak and key international destinations, particularly in China.
During the discussion, Batik Air Malaysia also provided updates on the upcoming charter service linking Kuching with Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.
The charter flight is scheduled to begin operations on March 17, 2026, and will operate twice weekly.
Flights from Kuching to Guangzhou will depart every Tuesday and Saturday, while return flights from Guangzhou to Kuching will operate on Wednesdays and Sundays.
The flight from Kuching is scheduled to depart at 10.20pm local time and arrive in Guangzhou at 2.20am, while the return flight will depart Guangzhou at 3.20am and arrive in Kuching at 7.20am.
In addition, Batik Air is exploring the introduction of direct flights from Zhangjiajie and Kunming to Sarawak this year, which is expected to further strengthen the State’s connectivity with China.
The new routes are anticipated to support the growth of Sarawak’s tourism sector and facilitate greater travel between the two destinations.
Lee said improved air connectivity would play a key role in boosting Sarawak’s accessibility while supporting tourism growth and economic activities in the State.
“Enhancing air connectivity not only improves mobility for travellers but also strengthens Sarawak’s position as a regional tourism destination, particularly in line with Visit Malaysia Year 2026,” he said.
Both parties also discussed efforts to promote Sarawak more actively by showcasing its unique culture, local products and signature foods such as mee kolok and Sarawak laksa, alongside major attractions including the Mulu and Niah caves, which are recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
These efforts are expected to complement national tourism campaigns such as Visit Malaysia Year 2026 and Cuti-Cuti Malaysia in attracting more domestic and international visitors to Sarawak.
Lee attended the meeting with a MOTS delegation that included permanent secretary Datu Wong Hee Sieng and aviation technical advisor Sio Yew Hua. — DayakDaily
