Batik Air Targets Flights To Japan And South Korea

Batik Air aircraft. (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - Batik Air, Lion Air Group's full service airline, is targeting flights to East Asia, such as Japan and South Korea, in an effort to expand the market.

"China is also a good market, but because there is still a problem with this virus (corona), please stop first," said Batik Air CEO Captain Achmad Luthfie in the introduction of the Airbus A320 Neo aircraft at Soekarno Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Thursday, February 6.

It has submitted a request through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for new routes of destination to these countries. Especially for routes to China, he said, his party had already secured a flight slot to "Panda Country" before the Corona Virus outbreak.

Luthfie also said that the move to add new routes was an effort by the airline to develop its business going forward, in addition to meeting the high market interest in East Asian routes. "Korea is also being loved because of its K-Pop," he added.

Batik Air, continued Luthfie, is also focused on opening new routes abroad. In March 2020, Batik Air plans to fly to Vietnam and is currently applying for permits for flights to Manila (Philippines) as well as adding new routes in Australia.

"If everything goes well, there may be around 10 new cities for our international routes by the end of this year," he said.

The plan is for the new international routes to use the Airbus A320 and Airbus A321 aircraft which will follow until the end of this year.

Batik Air plans five new Airbus aircraft, namely three Airbus A320 Neo and two Airbus 321LR this year. The new Airbus aircraft, which is claimed to be fuel efficient, is planned to be used for long-distance domestic routes as well as international routes.

One Airbus A320 Neo Batik Air has arrived last week and the arrival of the second aircraft is planned for August.