aviation

South Sumatra's Culture And Tourism Office And Air Asia Discuss Flights To Malaysia

The Department of Culture and Tourism (Disbudpar) and the Tourism Awareness Society (Masata) of South Sumatra (Sumsel), together with Air Asia Management discussed the opening of international flights on the Palembang-Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia route. 

In a meeting that took place in Palembang, Tuesday, Air Asia Network Planning Denis Jinol Anthony, Acting Head of South Sumatra's Disbudpar Pandji Tjahjanto, Head of Masata South Sumatra Herlan Aspiudin, and a number of local tourism industry players discussed the acceleration of the start of Air Asia's inaugural flight. 

Air Asia Network Planning Denis Jinol Anthony explained that his party is currently submitting a permit to open the Palembang-Malaysia flight route to the Directorate General of Air Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation and other related agencies. 

The permit is expected to be issued quickly, so that his party can immediately start operating the international flight. 

"The licensing process has so far gone according to plan. If there are no problems on June 23, 2025 we can start selling tickets, maybe even sooner," Denis said. 

Acting Head of South Sumatra Culture and Tourism Office Pandji Tjahjanto enthusiastically welcomed the plan to sell Air Asia's first flight tickets. 

"The plan to sell international flight tickets from Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport, Palembang, is expected to go according to plan, if possible, expedited so that it can support efforts to increase foreign tourist visits to South Sumatra," said Pandji. 

Head of South Sumatra Masata Herlan Aspiudin added that since the re-designation of Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin (SMB) II Airport as an international airport through the Decree of the Minister of Transportation Number KM 26 in April 2025, there have been no regular international flights. 

Information that Air Asia will soon open the Palembang-Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia route is good news and is warmly welcomed by tourism industry players in this province. 

"Masata is interested in having international flights at SMB II Airport, because it can increase foreign tourist visits and stimulate the tourism industry in South Sumatra," he said. 

He explained, some international flights that have existed so far, namely the route from SMB II Palembang Airport to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Singapore, as well as direct Umrah pilgrim flights to Jeddah. 

"A number of airlines that have served international flight routes are expected to be active again soon and there will be additional new international flight routes to more countries," Herlan also said. 

Tag: Air Asia Disbudpar Malaysia Masata Tourism Awareness Society