MALACCA: Malaysia's hybrid airline, Malindo Air, has launched its five-weekly flights from the Malacca International Airport, Batu Berendam here to Penang and Pekanbaru, Indonesia.
Chief executive officer Chandran Rama Muthy said the flights, using the 72- ATR-72-600 aircraft, were on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursday, Friday and Sundays.
The Penang-Malacca flight, which takes one hour and 20 minutes, leaves at 10.10am and returns at 3.15pm while the Malacca-Pekanbaru flight, which takes one hour and five minutes, leaves at 11.50am and returns at 12.50pm.
Speaking to reporters after receiving passengers on the inaugural Penang-Malacca light here today, Chandran said the initial flights were over 90 per cent full.
Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron was on hand to greet the 70 passengers upon arrival at 11.30am.
Chandran said the Penang-Malacca air fare was RM79 one way while the Malacca-Pekanbaru flight cost RM70 one way.
He said Malindo Air planned to increase the frequency of both flights to six times weekly within the first six months due to growing interest in Malacca as a health tourism destination and a world heritage site among Indonesians, particularly those from Pekanbaru.
Malindo Air also plans to introduce the Malacca-Kota Baru on November 21, he added.
Malindo Air has 18 planes, comprising 11 ATR-72-600 and seven Boeing 737s.-- Bernama