Batik Air Malaysia, formerly known as Malindo, has announced that it will start offering flights from Kuala Lumpur to Male via Colombo, a route that has only been served by Malaysia’s third-largest airline by seats for sale this northern summer, behind AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines. The new daily service will be operated by a 737 MAX 8 aircraft and will begin on June 23. While Batik has previously served the Sri Lankan destination from 2015 to 2020, the Maldives is a new destination for the airline, and both destinations are now available to book.

Covering a distance of 2,017 miles (3,247 km) to the Maldives, the airline’s full schedule is as follows, with all times local. The airline also has fifth freedom traffic rights, a common practice among airlines.

The flight schedule for the Kuala Lumpur to Male route via Colombo is as follows:

• OD297 departs Kuala Lumpur at 17:25 and arrives in Colombo at 18:25.
• OD297 departs Colombo at 19:25 and arrives in Male at 20:30.
• OD298 departs Male at 21:30 and arrives in Colombo at 23:35.
• OD298 departs Colombo at 00:35 and arrives in Kuala Lumpur at 06:55+1.

Currently, the Kuala Lumpur-Male route is only served by AirAsia’s direct flights, along with connecting flights by SriLankan Airlines and Singapore Airlines. Batik Air Malaysia’s new service will provide another option for passengers traveling between Kuala Lumpur and Male, which is a popular route due to the Maldives’ popularity as a tourist destination.

Batik Air Malaysia’s decision to start offering flights to Male via Colombo is a positive development for passengers traveling between Kuala Lumpur and Male. The new service will provide more options for travelers and may even help to drive down ticket prices. It will be interesting to see how this new service will be received by passengers and whether it will encourage other airlines to enter the market.