Melaka Airport Eyes Three New Routes to Batam, Kota Bharu and Penang
Melaka is in talks with airlines to add three new routes from Melaka International Airport at Batu Berendam by the end of 2026, covering Batam in Indonesia and two domestic stops in Kota Bharu and Penang. The plan was announced on 19 June 2026 by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh as the airport marked the return of the Wings Air Pekanbaru service.
The routes are still being negotiated and depend on airline assessments, so there are no firm launch dates yet. The target is to have all three operating by end of 2026. The state government is in discussions with several airlines, including at least one low-cost carrier, but the final decision rests with the airlines and the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM).
What each route would mean for visitors
The Melaka-Batam route would be the first international addition since the Pekanbaru service restarted. Batam is a gateway island in Indonesia's Riau Islands province, sitting between Singapore and the Indonesian mainland, and gives visitors from that corridor a direct path into Melaka without a Kuala Lumpur transfer.
Melaka-Kota Bharu would connect two of Malaysia's most distinct heritage cities. Travellers from the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, particularly Kelantan, would gain a way to reach Melaka without driving or busing across the peninsula, a trip that currently eats the better part of a day.
Melaka-Penang is the most domestically significant route of the three. Both cities carry UNESCO World Heritage status, and there is an obvious audience for a two-city heritage trip. Right now, getting between them means a long drive or a transit through Kuala Lumpur. A direct flight would collapse that to a short hop and make a combined George Town and Melaka itinerary far more practical.
A small airport that punches above its weight
Part of the case for new routes rests on how well LTAM already operates. The airport handled the Wings Air resumption smoothly, with aircraft turnarounds taking around 40 minutes despite the airport having a single gate. The terminal spans roughly 7,000 square metres and was designed for up to 500,000 passengers a year, though recent years have seen only a fraction of that capacity used.
For travellers planning ahead, the most reliable air options into Melaka remain the Wings Air service from Pekanbaru and the Scoot flights from Singapore. The airport sits about 10 km from Melaka city centre, a 15-minute Grab ride of around RM13 to RM15, or a 30-minute shuttle bus to Melaka Sentral at RM2.60. If the three new routes confirm, the airport page on the state tourism portal will be updated.
Practical Details
- Status: Under negotiation; no firm launch dates
- Target: All three routes operating by end of 2026
- Routes planned: Melaka-Batam (international), Melaka-Kota Bharu (domestic), Melaka-Penang (domestic)
- Airport: Melaka International Airport (LTAM), Batu Berendam (IATA: MKZ)
- Distance to city: 10 km, roughly 15 minutes by car
- Current commercial services: Wings Air to Pekanbaru, Scoot to Singapore
- Website: TourismMelaka flight routes update
