KUALA LUMPUR: Indonesia's PT TransNusa Aviation Mandiri (TransNusa) is ramping up its network expansion by introducing its second Malaysian destination, Johor, that it will fly to from Jakarta.
TransNusa Airline group chief executive officer Datuk Bernard Francis said the maiden flight, slated for Sept 7 this year, will be operated using the airline's Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd's (Comac) ARJ21 95-seat single-aisle aircraft.
"There is a big demand from Indonesia to Johor and Johor could also become as a gateway for travellers to stop by before traveling to Singapore," he said in a media briefing.
He added that TransNusa will be flying the new route five times a week.
TransNusa has started selling tickets for the new route on August 9.
Currently, the airline is offering a one-way RM199 promotional fare from Jakarta to Johor.
Bernard said TransNusa will introduce one flight that will depart Jakarta's Soekarno Hatta International Airport at 12.30pm and arrive at Johor Bahru's Senai International Airport at 3pm.
The flight from Johor will then depart to Jakarta at 3.30pm and arrive in the capital of Indonesia at 4.20pm.
TransNusa is also flying to Kuala Lumpur, its first international destination since April this year.
Currently, it is operating four times daily Jakarta-Kuala Lumpur flight using the Comac ARJ21 aircraft.
Moving forward, Bernard said the airline is looking to add the Jakarta-Malacca route by year-end.
"Currently, the airline is now undertaking a feasibility study and we'll make the necessary announcements in time, if all goes well," he said.
TransNusa is 51 per-cent owned by PT Panca Global International Indonesia and 49 per cent held by Singapore-based Linkasia Airlines Group, in which China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Ltd owns 72.82 per cent.
The airline was launched in 2005 as a low-cost carrier flying out of Jakarta's Soekarno Hatta International Airport.
It was rebranded as a premium service carrier in 2022 with hubs in Bali and Jakarta.