The Asian skies are set to rumble as Batik Air Malaysia, a rising Malaysian carrier, announces its plan to commence flights to New Zealand. Set to operate the lengthiest narrowbody route in and out of the country, this new development will undeniably shake up the local aviation scene.
Formerly known as Malindo Air, Batik Air Malaysia is a branch of Indonesia’s Lion Air Group. Positioning itself as a full-service airline, it offers both business and economy class seating, supplemented by in-flight entertainment and meals. It currently holds a modest three-star rating on the aviation rating platform, Skytrax.
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Commencing late August, the carrier’s flight plan includes routes from Kuala Lumpur to Auckland, with a layover in Perth, Australia. The flights will be serviced by a 737-MAX, equipped with a total of 162 seats, including 12 in the business class.
This service will set the record as the longest narrowbody flight route to and from New Zealand, with the Auckland-Perth leg alone taking over six hours. The subsequent connecting flight from Perth to Kuala Lumpur is slightly shorter, clocking in under six hours.
Batik Air’s ambitious plans are slated to create a major disruption in the aviation market. The new route, to be operated six times weekly, presents a direct challenge to Air New Zealand’s monopoly, the current sole provider of direct flights on these routes.
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The competitive pricing strategy of Batik Air is also noteworthy, with round-trip flights from Auckland to Perth being offered at approximately $860USD (NZ$1367), a significant markdown compared to Air NZ’s current fare of $1432.
This addition of Batik Air Malaysia makes it the third Malaysian airline to service New Zealand, joining Malaysian Airlines and Air Asia, offering a wider range of choices for travelers.
The new challenge comes at a tough time for Air NZ, which is grappling with capacity issues in the wake of pandemic-related restrictions and facing intensified competition from rival airlines such as Qantas. This article is based on news from Stuff.
