PHNOM PENH — Batik Air will be the first Malaysian carrier to launch flight services between Timor-Leste’s capital Dili and Kuala Lumpur by the first quarter of next year.
Malaysian Ambassador to Timor-Leste Datuk Amarjit Singh said Batik Air will be the fifth airline to service Dili and officials at both ends are fine-tuning final procedures for the launch. The flight time between Kuala Lumpur and Dili will take about four hours.
“We signed the air services agreement in June this year. The Transport Ministry and Malaysian Aviation Commission have approved Batik Air to service this route and discussions are in the final stages on flight schedules, traffic rights and timing,” he said.
“I am optimistic that operations will start before Chinese New Year,” Amarjit told Bernama in a telephone interview from Dili.
The lack of regional and international connectivity has hampered the country’s development as investors and business communities seek destinations with better connectivity. Timor-Leste is known for its petroleum and coffee exports, Amarjit said.
He expects air traffic between Malaysia and Timor-Leste will likely soar given time because the Timor-Leste government has a development agenda. It is also preparing to join ASEAN to raise the economic status of its 1.4 million people.
Amarjit said: “We need not worry about the load factor. The first batch of 31 Timor government-sponsored students will be leaving in November this year to study in Malaysia’s private institutions and the numbers are expected to double next year.”
He said there is a Timor-Leste government-sponsored healthcare programme in which patients are referred to hospitals in Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Melaka. There is already a demand for agricultural products and this will contribute to Timor-Leste’s food security.
“This will create a sustainable route for the carrier with plenty of movement, especially with Malaysia assuming the ASEAN chairmanship next year. Therefore, Batik Air’s entry will be a natural multiplier, boosting tourism, trade and businesses between the two countries,” he said.
The envoy said Timorese officials trained under Malaysia’s Technical Cooperation Programme rose from 650 at the end of 2022 to over 800 as it prepares to become a member of the regional bloc.
Malaysia-based Batik Air launched its operations in March 2013. It operates from Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, also known as Subang Airport.
According to its website, the carrier operates 800 weekly flights across a network of 52 routes in Southeast Asia. — BERNAMA