Krabi is one of Batik Air’s new routes to Thailand. — SUMIT CHINCHANE/Unsplash
Visiting Malaysia has become even more hassle-free for Etihad Airways guests with the introduction of a codeshare partnership between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) national airline with Malaysia’s own Batik Air.
“Through this partnership, we aim to welcome visitors globally to explore Malaysia's diverse attractions, alongside destinations across South-East Asia and more,” Datuk Chandran Rama Muthy, CEO of Batik Air Malaysia, said in a statement.
“Moreover, this partnership will expand flight choices for Malaysian travellers, offering enhanced travel options to discover new international destinations beyond Abu Dhabi.”
The new codeshare allows guests to enjoy the airlines’ combined services and networks on a single ticket.
Perks for guests include having their luggage smoothly transferred to their final destination and having access to access eight domestic and international destinations via Batik Air’s hub at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
The five domestic destinations in Malaysia are Johor Baru, Langkawi, Penang, and Sabah’s Kota Kinabalu and Tawau. International destinations currently include Australia’s Perth and Vietnam’s Da Nang and Hanoi. Medan and Hong Kong will be added to the list in the near future.
With the agreement, which makes Batik Air Etihad’s 38th codeshare partner, Batik Air’s network becomes more easily accessible to travellers, who can now connect via its gateway in KL that is served by twice-daily Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi.
Travellers from Malaysia or Asia in general will also get to discover international destinations beyond Abu Dhabi, as through the Abu Dhabi hub, they are able to connect to Etihad’s growing global network in the Middle East, Europe and Africa.
Aside from this new codeshare launch, Batik Air has also recently announced two new routes to Thailand.
Hat Yai and Krabi are the airline’s latest destinations from KL. Both routes will operate daily on a B737 aircraft, which offers both Economy and Business seats.
“Last year alone, 4.62 million Malaysian tourists explored Thailand’s wonders, underlining the growing appeal of destinations like Hat Yai and Krabi. This expansion aligns with our commitment to meet rising demand and deliver exceptional travel experiences,” said Datuk Chandran Rama Muthy.
Malaysia is currently Krabi’s top visitor, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, where 2.5 million Malaysian visitors visit Hat Yai annually.
The new routes will commence on Sep 13, 2024. Tickets are now available for booking through Batik Air website (www.batikair.com). – Florey D. Mikil
