Batik Air Relaunches Colombo-Kuala Lumpur Flights 📈

• Aviation & Tourism: Batik Air (formerly Malindo Air) will resume direct operations between Colombo and Kuala Lumpur starting 30 March 2026. The carrier will operate four weekly services, positioning itself as a hybrid airline targeting leisure, business, and education segments. • Bilateral Growth: The move follows a strong upward trend in travel. Sri Lankan arrivals to Malaysia rose from 61,766 in 2024 to 77,022 in 2025, marking a 24.7% YoY increase. Officials aim for a further 10-15% growth in 2026 to coincide with 'Visit Malaysia Year.' • Economic Impact: Beyond passenger traffic, the service is expected to bolster export cargo movements and trade. The route provides Sri Lankan travelers enhanced connectivity to the wider Asia-Pacific region, including China and Australia, via the Kuala Lumpur hub. • Strategic Context: The Civil Aviation Authority noted the relaunch reflects growing airline confidence in Sri Lanka's recovery. This expansion supports national efforts in diversification of tourism markets and strengthening people-to-people ties between the two nations.