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Hang Nadim International Airport in Batam has officially opened a new flight route connecting Batam City, Indonesia, with Incheon, South Korea. The opening of the Batam-Incheon route is part of a broader strategy to enhance Batam's international accessibility and support economic and tourism development.
The BIB Chief Executive Officer Pikri Ilham Kurniansyah, explained that the flight from Incheon to Batam would take around 6.5 hours. Currently, flights are scheduled three times a week, before the winter season. Starting from Oct. 27, 2024, the frequency will increase to four times a week, with plans for daily flights in the summer of 2025.
"Today's inaugural flight [soft launch] carried 68 passengers with 30-day visitor visas. The official flight schedule will begin on Oct. 17, 2024, although system updates are still pending," Pikri said.
This flight operates under a codeshare system, where two airlines share the same flight. Jeju Air serves as the operating carrier, while Lion Air is the marketing carrier. Through this business agreement, Jeju Air tickets in Indonesia will be managed by Lion Air, allowing passengers to purchase Jeju Air tickets through Lion Air's system.
In this partnership, Jeju Air handles flight operations, while both airlines, Jeju Air and Lion Air, collaborate on ticket marketing. Although the flight code is shared, Jeju Air fully manages the operations.
This new route is also expected to enhance connectivity between Indonesia and South Korea. Incheon Airport, as a major international hub, serves over 70 million passengers annually and connects to more than 200 destinations worldwide. With this direct connection, Batam will be further integrated into the global aviation network, facilitating the mobility of tourists and business travelers.
To provide some context, more than 340,000 South Koreans visited Indonesia annually in 2023, with Bali and Jakarta as the main destinations. With the opening of this route, Batam has the potential to become a new destination for Korean tourists, especially because of its strategic location near Singapore.
Overall, the opening of the Batam-Incheon route is not only a strategic step to strengthen international connectivity; it will also have a significant positive impact on the economy, tourism and investment in Batam and Indonesia as a whole.
