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.jpg) ABoeing 737-800 of Batik Air Malaysia | |||||||
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| Founded | 27 September 2012; 13 years ago (2012-09-27) (asMalindo Air) | ||||||
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| Commenced operations |
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| Hubs | Kuala Lumpur International Airport Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport[1] | ||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | Malindo Miles | ||||||
| Fleet size | 44 | ||||||
| Destinations | 56[2] | ||||||
| Parent company |
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| Headquarters | Ara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia | ||||||
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| Website | www | ||||||
Batik Air Malaysia (formerly known asMalindo Air) is aMalaysian full-service airline and a subsidiary of Indonesia'sLion Air Group. Headquartered inAra Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, the airline operates domestic and international flights across Asia-Pacific, South Asia and the Middle East.[5][6] It was established in 2013 under the name Malindo Air, offering a hybrid service model that combinedlow-cost fares with selected premium services.
In 2022, the airline adopted the Batik Air Malaysia brand, reflecting Lion Air Group's initiative to consolidate its full-service carriers under a unified identity. The rebranding also enhanced its synergy withBatik Air (Indonesia), aligning operational and branding strategies to enhance connectivity and competitiveness in the aviation sector.
With its primary hub atKuala Lumpur International Airport, Batik Air Malaysia utilises a modern fleet, includingBoeing 737 MAX andAirbus A330 aircraft, to support its regional andlong-haul operations. In 2017, it became the first airline in the world to operate theBoeing 737 MAX 8, marking a significant milestone in its fleet development.[7]
Batik Air Malaysia, initially known as Malindo Air, was founded in 2012 as a joint venture between Malaysia’s National Aerospace and Defence Industries (NADI), which holds a 51%ownership stake, and Indonesia’sLion Air, which owns the remaining 49%. The name Malindo is aportmanteau ofMalaysia andIndonesia, reflecting the collaboration between the two countries.[citation needed] The airline was established to challenge the dominance oflow-cost carriers, particularlyAirAsia, by offering a hybrid business model that combined low-cost fares with selectbusiness class services.[8]
The airline officially began operations on 22 March 2013, with its first flight fromKuala Lumpur International Airport toKota Kinabalu,Sabah. Malindo Air initially operated a dual-class seating arrangement, offering botheconomy andbusiness class options. The airline’s strategy was to appeal to price-conscious travelers while providing amenities typically associated with full-service carriers, such as complimentary meals, personalin-flight entertainment systems and a generousbaggage allowance.[8]
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In its first year of operation, Malindo Air rapidly expanded its domestic network. By mid-2013, the airline had added several Malaysian cities to its service roster and had begun operatinginternational routes.[citation needed] The first international destination,Dhaka,Bangladesh, was introduced on 28 August 2013. By the end of 2015, Malindo Air had grown to serve 19 international destinations, transporting nearly 4 million passengers and capturing around 6% of Malaysia's aviation market share.[citation needed]
This expansion was supported by a growing fleet, which includedBoeing 737-900ER aircraft for long-haul flights andATR72-600 turboprops for regional services.[citation needed] The fleet allowed Malindo Air to reach smaller airports and regional destinations effectively, further driving its growth in both the domestic and international markets.[citation needed]
Between 2016 and 2018, Malindo Air focused on further fleet expansion and enhancing its international presence. The airline set an ambitious goal of increasing its fleet size to 100 aircraft by the end of the decade. During this period, Malindo added new routes to destinations in Australia, India, Thailand, Indonesia and Bangladesh.[citation needed] By mid-2017, the airline served more than 54 destinations across 16 countries, with significant expansions inSoutheast Asia and beyond.[8]
In 2017, Malindo Air became the first airline to receive theBoeing 737 MAX 8, with the first delivery arriving on 16 May 2017.[7] The aircraft entered service on 22 May of the same year. Additionally, Malindo Air introducedin-flight connectivity services under the brands "Malindo WiFi" and "Malindo Mobile," allowing passengers to stay connected during their flights. This move was part of the airline’s broader strategy to enhance the passenger experience and keep pace with technological advancements in the aviation industry.[9]
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In 2019, under the leadership ofCEO Chandran Rama Muthy, Malindo Air shifted from its original hybrid model to a full-service carrier.[10] This strategic move was aimed to improve the airline's competitive positioning against established full-service carriers likeMalaysia Airlines, while also reducingconsumer confusion about its service offerings. The transition was part of a broader effort to align Malindo Air more closely with the full-service airlines within theLion Air Group.[11]
During this time, the airline expanded its international routes, notably toJapan andAustralia. However, the global aviation industry wassignificantly impacted by the onset of theCOVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. The pandemic caused widespread operational disruptions astravel restrictions were enforced, forcing Malindo Air to scale back operations.
On 28 April 2022, Malindo Air underwent a major rebranding, officially adopting the name Batik Air Malaysia. This change was part of Lion Group’s strategy to unify its full-service airline operations under a single brand identity.[12] The development was also aimed at strengthening Batik Air Malaysia’s presence atKuala Lumpur International Airport, a key hub for Lion Group's network and at better integrating the airline into the group's broader operations.[12]
As part of the rebranding, Batik Air Malaysia updated its branding, marketing materials and fleet. The airline also began receivingBoeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in late 2022, marking a significant modernization of its fleet.[11] These new aircraft are more fuel-efficient and aligned with the airline’s long-term sustainability and operational goals.[13]
As of late 2024, Batik Air Malaysia operates a fleet of approximately 32 aircraft, including Boeing 737-800s, Boeing 737 MAX 8s and Airbus A330-300s. The airline serves around 79 destinations across theAsia-Pacific region, including major cities in Southeast Asia, India, Australia and other parts of Asia. Since rebranding, Batik Air Malaysia has focused on improving itscustomer service offerings, including enhancingin-flight meal options and providing Wi-Fi services on a larger number of its flights.[14][15]
Batik Air Malaysia continues to expand its network, both domestically within Malaysia and internationally across the Asia-Pacific region.[16] The airline has pursuedcodeshare agreements with other carriers to improve connectivity and offer more options for passengers traveling across Southeast Asia and beyond.
As of October 2025[update], Batik Air Malaysia flies (or has flown) to the following destinations:[17]
Batik Air Malaysia operatescodeshares with the following airlines:
Batik Air Malaysia hasInterline agreements with the following airlines:
As of August 2025[update], Batik Air Malaysia operates the following aircraft:[50]
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||
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| C | Y | Total | ||||
| Airbus A330-300 | 5 | — | 12 | 365 | 377 | Transferred fromLion Air. |
| Boeing 737-800 | 22 | 2 | 12 | 150 | 162 | To be transferred fromBatik Air. |
| Boeing 737 MAX 8 | 3 | — | 12 | 150 | 162 | |
| 14 | — | 180 | 180 | Transferred fromLion Air. | ||
| Total | 44 | 2 | ||||
| Aircraft | Introduced | Retired | Total | Passengers | Notes | ||
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| C | Y | Total | |||||
| ATR 72-600[citation needed] | 2013 | 2024 | 14 | — | 72 | 72 | Short-haul regional routes based inSultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport |
| Boeing 737-900ER[51] | 2013 | 2021 | 6 | 12 | 168 | 180 | |
Media related toBatik Air Malaysia at Wikimedia Commons
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