KUALA LUMPUR: Indonesian low-cost carrier (LCC) Citilink Indonesia has launched the new Jakarta-Penang route, marking its global expansion to serving the Asean countries.
Citilink Indonesia’s president director Fransetya Hutabarat said the new Jakarta-Penang flight will further strengthen the Asean Economic Community’s establishment to facilitate the population’s dynamic mobility and provide business opportunities.
“Citilink Indonesia’s next target is aiming to fly to other neighbouring countries which considered having great potential in providing benefits for the tourism and trade growth,” he said in a statement today.
He added that rising economic community and strong competition climate exist in the region would provide service benefits to passengers, not least in the aviation industry.
“Passengers are increasingly aware of quality services, with a wide range of choices and also good accessibility,” said Fransetya.
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd managing director Datuk Badlisham Ghazali said the daily route from both Penang-Jakarta by Citilink will provide a platform for business and leisure travellers.
“This inaugural flight by Citilink Indonesia will be a new member of airlines operating at Penang International Airport,” he added.
Badlisham said the new route will contribute boosting to passengers growth at Penang International Airport as it the airline is the second new international airline after Qatar Airways to fly to Penang this year.
“In 2017, the airport served 7.2 million passengers and handled 69,000 flight movements.”
Citilink Indonesia flights to Penang, is expected to provide options for travellers to carry out their trips from leisure, business or even medical activities.
Penang, Malaysia became Citilink Indonesia's second international flight after Dili, East Timor which was opened in May 2017, and become one of the airline’s "Go Regional" strategic steps in expanding its business to the ASEAN region, following the Four Star certification for LCC award from Skytrax received at the begining of 2018.
The new Jakarta - Penang flight will be flying daily from Terminal 3 Ultimate of Soekarno Hatta Airport, Cengkareng at 09.55 and landed at Penang International Airport, Malaysia at 13:25 local time.
While the flight from Penang departed at 14:50 local time and landed in Jakarta at 16:20 pm.
Currently, Citilink Indonesia has flown to 66 flight routes and 268 frequency flights per day to 33 cities in Indonesia and region with the strength of 50 Airbus A320 units, which consist of five A320 NEO with the latest advanced low fuel technology.