AirAsia becomes first international airline flying direct from Kuala Lumpur to Labuan Bajo
LABUAN BAJO, 3 September 2024 – AirAsia continues to expand its regional network by becoming the first international airline to offer direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Labuan Bajo, creating new opportunities for tourism and trade between the two nations.
Operated by AirAsia Malaysia (flight code AK), the inaugural flight from Kuala Lumpur landed in Labuan Bajo this morning, marking the start of three flights weekly between the two vibrant destinations. This expansion strengthens AirAsia’s network to a total of 28 direct routes between Malaysia and Indonesia.
The addition of this route aligns with AirAsia’s commitment to expanding regional connectivity, catering to the growing demand for travel to emerging destinations like Labuan Bajo. With over 4,000 seats available weekly, this route is set to significantly increase visitor numbers and generate substantial economic impact for local communities in both Malaysia and Indonesia.
Furthermore, AirAsia’s Fly-Thru service further enhances accessibility, allowing travellers from across the region to reach Labuan Bajo - a gateway to the world-famous Komodo National Park and the picturesque island of Flores - easily with just one stopover in Kuala Lumpur, making the journey more convenient for international tourists from Asia and Australia.
Dato’ Captain Fareh Mazputra, Managing Director of AirAsia Malaysia said: “Launching our direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Labuan Bajo today marks a significant step in supporting Indonesia’s ambitious tourism targets. Labuan Bajo is one of Indonesia’s top five Super Priority Tourism Destinations, where the government aims to attract more travellers with hopes to surpass 500,000 visitors in 2024.
“We are committed to contributing to Labuan Bajo’s continued development as a world-class destination by making it more accessible to travellers from around the globe. This collaboration between governments, airlines, and other stakeholders is key to achieving the ambitious targets set for Labuan Bajo and ensuring its status as a premier tourism hub.
“Indonesia remains one of our most important markets, and we will continue to work closely with AirAsia Indonesia to boost tourism and trade between our two nations. Our 28 direct routes connecting Malaysia and Indonesia have flown over 7 million guests, playing a crucial role in driving economic growth, enhancing regional connectivity, and supporting the local tourism sectors. We look forward to expanding our network with plans to explore more direct routes between Malaysia and Indonesia in the future. ”
AirAsia Malaysia flies to 15 routes across Indonesia, from Kuala Lumpur to Kertajati, Banda Aceh, Jakarta, Bali (Denpasar), Medan, Padang, Pekanbaru, Makassar, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Balikpapan, Lombok; Penang to Jakarta and Medan as well as from Kota Kinabalu to Manado.