KUALA LUMPUR, 28 JULY 2025 – Tourism Malaysia welcomes the inaugural Batik Air’s direct flight, OD 533, from Don Mueang International Airport (DMK), Bangkok, to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (Subang Airport) (SZB) today, marking a significant milestone in strengthening air connectivity between Malaysia and Thailand.

This daily new service not only underscores Batik Air’s commitment to position Subang Airport as a key hub city airport but also supports national efforts to boost inbound tourism and enhance travel accessibility in anticipation of the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign.

Operating on a Boeing 737 aircraft, the Subang–Bangkok route is Batik Air’s first international service from SZB, offering seamless access for both business and leisure travellers. Located closer to Kuala Lumpur’s city centre, Subang Airport is a convenient alternative to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

In addition to the Bangkok route, Batik Air also commenced direct flights from SZB to Kuching today, further enhancing its domestic network and complementing its existing routes from SZB to Penang, Kota Bharu, Kota Kinabalu, and Tawau (via BKI).

Datuk Manoharan Periasamy, Director General of Tourism Malaysia, stated: “We applaud Batik Air’s commitment in expanding Malaysia’s regional and domestic air connectivity. These new routes are timely as we gear up for VM2026. Thailand remains one of our most important source markets, and enhanced accessibility will play a pivotal role in boosting visitor arrivals and supporting the growth of Malaysia’s tourism industry.”

Datuk Chandran Rama Muthy, Chief Executive Officer of Batik Air, commented: “With these new routes, we are not only deepening our presence in Subang but also bringing travellers closer to the destinations they love — whether it’s exploring Bangkok’s vibrant streets or experiencing Kuching’s rich cultural charm.”

Batik Air currently operates 57 weekly flights between Malaysia and Thailand, connecting Kuala Lumpur (via KLIA Terminal 1) and Johor Bahru with several key Thai destinations, including Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi and Hat Yai, offering a total of 9,234 seats.

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About Tourism Malaysia

Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, also known as Tourism Malaysia, is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia. It focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia as a preferred tourism destination. Since its inception, it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene. The next Visit Malaysia Year, set to take place in 2026, will commemorate the sustainability of the nation's tourism industry, which is also in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). Furthermore, Tourism Malaysia actively endorses the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), working towards the realisation of the IMT-GT Visiting Year 2023-2025, with the shared aim of promoting the region as a unified tourism destination. For more information, visit Tourism Malaysia’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok.

For enquiries, please contact:

Dr. Khairulhilmi A. Manap
Deputy Director
International Promotion Division (Southeast Asia)
[email protected]
Tel: +603 8891 8259

Norshariza Mohd Saad
Deputy Director
Corporate Communications Division
[email protected]
Tel: +603 8891 8775