MELAKA, May 31 — Two-way flights on the Melaka-Pekanbaru route operated by Indonesian low-cost carrier Wings Air will resume at Melaka International Airport (LTAM) in Batu Berendam on June 10, according to a Melaka state executive councillor.
State Tourism, Heritage, Arts and Culture Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Razak Abdul Rahman said the airline, which is part of the Lion Air Group, will operate three flights a week on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
He said the reactivation of the route is expected to contribute to an increase in tourist arrivals from Indonesia, particularly in the medical tourism subsector.
“I have been informed that about 50 per cent of the passengers on these flights were tourists seeking treatment or health screenings at the four private hospitals in Melaka.
“The private hospitals in the state are the preferred choice for many Indonesians because we have numerous trusted specialist doctors, as well as advanced and up-to-date medical facilities,” he told reporters here last night.
He was speaking after the Riuh Ria @ Banda Hilir 2026 programme, which was also attended by Tourism Melaka’s promotion division general manager Nasrul Ahmad.
Abdul Razak said the state government is also holding discussions with several airlines to open routes to other destinations from LTAM.
On the two-way Melaka-Singapore service operated by Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, he said it has been receiving encouraging response, with about 85 per cent of passenger capacity filled on each flight.
Meanwhile, Nasrul said the Riuh Ria @ Banda Hilir programme is a new tourism product introduced during the long holiday period to enliven the state’s tourism sector through a variety of attractions and activities.
He said the inaugural edition of the programme was held over two days beginning Friday, featuring traditional games competitions such as draughts, tin-can throwing, coconut bowling and chapteh, in addition to arts and cultural performances.
“Over the two-day period, we are targeting more than 10,000 visitors to the Banda Hilir area, particularly around the Red Building precinct,” he said.
