Batik Air Penang Batam flights start October 18, 2026 — the first-ever direct route between Penang and Batam, opening a new air link between northern Malaysia and the Riau Islands gateway. The carrier is also adding a direct Bali route from Penang this October as part of a wider expansion.
Why the Batik Air Penang Batam Route Is New
Penang previously had no direct air connection to Batam, which sits just across the Strait of Malacca from Singapore and functions as a major gateway for travelers and medical tourists from the region, not unlike how Langkawi serves as Malaysia’s other well-connected island getaway. Penang state officials have framed the new route as a boost for both tourism and medical-travel traffic between the two areas, which have strong existing ties but relied on indirect routings until now.
The Bottom Line
If you’re planning travel between Penang and the Riau Islands, or using Batam as a stopover toward other Indonesian destinations, this is the first time a direct option has existed — worth checking against the usual Singapore or Kuala Lumpur connections once the route is live from October 18. See Malaysia’s other new international routes for 2026 for more options opening around the same time.