MALACCA: THE Transport Ministry will assist the Malacca government in getting direct charter flights from China and Hong Kong to touch down at the Malacca International Airport (LTAM) in Batu Berendam here.
Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the charter service had great potential as Chinese tourists
had shown interest in visiting the state.
He said the ministry was ready to give due consideration to any proposal to extend the existing runway to allow larger chartered aircraft to land at LTAM.
“The commitment made by China to develop the ‘Maritime Silk Road’ has made Malacca popular among China’s population due to Malacca’s past glory.
“We can take advantage by continuing to promote Malacca in China and direct charter flights to Malaysia once we get sufficient passengers,” he said after the opening of the Malacca International Air Carnival by Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob at LTAM yesterday.
Present was Malacca International Air Carnival chairman Tan Sri Mohd Ali Rustam.
Liow said the Transport Ministry was constantly encouraging more airlines to launch their operations from LTAM.
He said a recent move by Malindo Air to commence the company’s five-time-a-week flights from Malacca to Penang, and Malacca to Pekanbaru, Indonesia was a good start for LTAM.
“With the launch of the services, we hope to see an increase in the number of tourists to Malacca.”
Liow said more commercial flights are expected to operate from LTAM as the ministry was in the midst of discussions with several other airline companies, including AirAsia and Firefly.