BaronVonchesto / Public domain
Melaka International Airport at Batu Berendam may be gaining three new routes before the year is out.
The state government is negotiating with several airlines, including at least one low-cost carrier, to open services to Batam in Indonesia, Kota Bharu in Kelantan, and Penang. The plan was confirmed by Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh on 19 June, during a visit to the airport to mark the operations of the Wings Air Pekanbaru service that returned on 10 June.
The routes are still being negotiated and will depend on airline assessments, so there are no firm launch dates yet. The target is to have all three operating by end-2026.
What each route means for visitors
The Melaka-Batam route would be the first international addition since the Pekanbaru service restarted. Batam is a gateway island in the Riau Islands province, positioned between Singapore and the Indonesian mainland, and gives Indonesian visitors from that corridor a direct path into Melaka without a Kuala Lumpur transfer.
Melaka-Kota Bharu would connect two of Malaysia’s most distinct heritage cities. Travellers from the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, particularly Kelantan, would gain a way to reach Melaka without driving or busing across the peninsula.
Melaka-Penang is the most domestically significant route. Both cities carry UNESCO World Heritage status, and there is an obvious audience for a two-city heritage trip. Right now, getting between them means a long drive or a transit through Kuala Lumpur. A direct flight would change that.
A small airport that handles more than it looks
Part of the case for new routes rests on how well LTAM already operates. The airport handled the Wings Air resumption smoothly, with aircraft turnarounds taking around 40 minutes despite the airport having a single gate. The federal government is being consulted on ensuring facilities meet the needs of any additional airlines.
For travellers planning ahead, the airport page has current information on how to arrive by air and what to expect at Batu Berendam. If these routes confirm, it will be updated accordingly.
Until then, the most reliable air options remain the Wings Air service from Pekanbaru and the Scoot flights from Singapore. Watch this space.
