KUALA LUMPUR: Batik Air will suspend its operations to Istanbul, Turkiye effective from May 1 in response to the recent situation in the Middle East.
The airline said the ongoing tension in the Middle East has "significantly impacted" in the route taken by Batik Air, leading to the operational restrictions that make it challenging to continue the flights to the region.
"Therefore, Batik Air has taken the difficult but necessary step to suspend its operations to Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW). The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remain our top priority, and this decision has been made after careful consideration of the prevailing situation.
"We understand the inconvenience this suspension may bring to our valued passengers, and we extend our heartfelt apologies for any disruption it may cause to their travel arrangements," it added.
Affected passengers will be notified via email and text while request for refunds can be made via its website.
"The team remains committed to ensuring the safety and comfort of our passengers on all routes. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates in due course.
"In the meantime, we remain dedicated to serving our passengers with the highest standards of safety, reliability and customer service.
"We appreciate the understanding and patience of our passengers during this challenging time," it said.