Tiong Hails Lion Air Group Talks as Boost for Malaysia's Tourism and Business Travel

2 May 2026

JAKARTA, Indonesia: Datuk Tiong King Sing, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) welcomed promising discussions with Lion Air Group Indonesia, including Batik Air and Lion Air, as a key step towards enhancing flight connectivity and spurring growth in Malaysia's tourism and business sectors.

Tiong engaged with the Indonesian airline team to explore expanded flight networks and capacity allocation. The talks highlighted Lion Air Group's impressive fleet of around 390 aircraft, backed by in-house pilot training, positioning them to ramp up operations effectively.

"This provides a strong foundation for mutual growth," Tiong noted, while urging the addition of wide-body planes like the Airbus A330 for medium- and long-haul routes.

A major focus was prioritising wide-body deployments to Malaysia, enabling more direct flights to the Middle East and Europe.

Tiong pointed out untapped demand currently routed through Singapore or Thailand, stressing that enhanced capacity would capture this market and benefit Malaysian hubs.

The minister emphasised stabilising and increasing daily flights to Sibu and Bintulu, particularly Bintulu as a heavy industry centre attracting foreign expertise.

"Regular, consistent services will meet real business needs and drive economic activity," he said, underscoring the cooperative potential.

Batik Air shared plans for new direct routes to Kuala Lumpur from Makassar, Balikpapan, Semarang, and Pontianak, plus tourism sales exhibitions in Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya, and Denpasar targeting 4,000 Indonesian visitors via package deals.

Further routes under review include Palembang, Banda Aceh, Padang, Banjarmasin, and Penang–Batam, all aimed at linking second- and third-tier cities for broader tourism opportunities.

Tiong reaffirmed the government's support for route development and tourism partnerships, promising mechanisms to aid airlines in new markets and foster regional air networks.

Lion Air Group expressed confidence in Malaysia's potential and commitment to gradual expansion.

These discussions signal stronger Indonesia-Malaysia aviation ties, poised to deliver more jobs, visitor influx, and business efficiency through seamless connectivity.