The carrier is expanding its reach to popular tourist destinations across the region.

Batik Air Malayasia marked its first arrival at Velana International Airport (MLN) in the Maldives on May 12, carrying 57 passengers and receiving a traditional water salute upon landing. During the flight to the Maldives, the airline made a stopover at Colombo Airport (CMB) in Sri Lanka.

In the future, the airline plans to operate daily flights to and from the Maldives, connecting the country with Malaysia beginning June 23, 2023, according to its official website. Meanwhile, starting May 12, Batik Air operates flights between Kauala lumpur International Airport (KUL) Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) and the Maldives via Colombo in Sri Lanka. Of these, only the Sri Lanka route has been served by Batik Air before.  To operate on the route, the airline will utilize its fleet of 16 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. In addition to 16 MAXs, Batik Air operates to a total of 52 destinations using nine ATR 72-600 turboprops, six Boeing 737-800s, and a single Airbus A330-300 widebody, according to ch-aviation.com data.

More airlines have confirmed their plans to launch flights to the Maldives this year, including Saudi Arabia's Flynas and UK-based Virgin Atlantic. Flynas will commence flights to the Maldives in June, while Virgin Atlantic in October of this year

Aviation enthusiasts may be aware that Malindo Air was renamed Batik Air Malaysia in April of last year. The Lion Air Group owns both Batik Air Malaysia and Batik Air Indonesia, which is based at Jakarta Soekarno Hatta Airport (CGK). The two airlines have a similar operating style, and their owners decided to merge them under a single brand in order to establish a common identity for the full-service airlines within the group.