Batik Air mulls more Aidilfitri flights to Sarawak as festive travel demand surges

Chandran (fourth left) presenting a memento to Lee after a meeting at Batik Air Malaysia in Sepang on March 9, 2026. Photo credit: Ukas

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, March 12: Batik Air is considering increasing flight frequencies to Sarawak during peak travel periods such as the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festive season to accommodate rising passenger demand.

According to Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news, the proposal was among the key matters discussed in 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 on Monday (March 9).

The discussion underscored the commitment of the Sarawak Ministry of Transport (MOTS) and Batik Air Malaysia to continue working together to enhance air connectivity to the State, particularly during festive periods when travel demand surges.

Lee attended the meeting together with a MOTS delegation that included permanent secretary Datu Wong Hee Sieng and aviation technical advisor Sio Yew Hua.

Among the issues raised was Batik Air’s flight scheduling to Sarawak, including the possibility of increasing flight frequencies during peak travel periods such as the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festive season to help meet the growing number of passengers returning to their hometowns.

The meeting also touched on special festive season airfare rates following an initiative announced by Transport Minister Anthony Loke to stabilise flight ticket prices from Peninsular Malaysia to Sabah and Sarawak during festive periods.

Under the initiative, the government has set a base fare ceiling of RM499 for selected flights during peak festive travel periods.

If ticket prices exceed the set rate, the difference will be borne by the government to ensure Malaysians working far from their hometowns can return home to celebrate without facing high airfare costs.

Lee said improving air connectivity is crucial in strengthening Sarawak’s accessibility while supporting the growth of the State’s tourism sector and economic activities.
“Enhancing air connectivity not only improves mobility for travellers but also helps strengthen Sarawak’s position as a regional tourism destination, especially in line with Visit Malaysia Year 2026,” he said.

Both parties also discussed opportunities to promote Sarawak more actively by highlighting its unique culture, local products and iconic dishes such as mee kolok and Sarawak laksa, as well as key attractions including the Mulu and Niah caves, which are recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Such promotional 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. — DayakDaily