5 more flights a week from Kolkata to Kuala Lumpur

KOLKATA: Malindo Airways Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian full-service airline owned by Indonesian Lion Air Group, started its flights between Kolkata and Kuala Lumpur early on Tuesday. The five-times-a-week service will add to the daily flight operated by AirAsia Berhad to take the weekly count of flights between the two cities to 12.

“India is one of the important markets for us and we have been getting good response from India. Kolkata is a potential market in terms of outbound travellers and we look forward to seeing good response to our new flight from Kolkata to Kuala Lumpur,” said Malindo Air CEO Chandran Rama Muthy. Malindo will operate two planes on the sector: Boeing B737-800 with 150 economy- and 12 businessclass seats and B737-900 with 162 economy- and 12 businessclass stories. The flight time between Kolkata and KL is three hours, 55 minutes.


Traditionally tourists have a fascination for Kuala Lumpur and Petronas Twin Towers as well as Genting Highlands with magnum hotels, casinos and joy rides. Tourism Malaysia director Sulaiman Suip, who was present at the launch of the flight from Kolkata, believes tourists from Kolkata would be equally enchanted by the sheer diversity of Malaysia’s culture and performing arts. “We want to introduce tourists to places beyond Kuala Lumpur, such as upbeat destinations, like Ipoh, Johor, Kota Kinabalu and unexplored beaches, rainforests and national parks,” said Suip.

While Malaysian national carrier Malaysia Airlines had flown into Kolkata about a decade ago but withdrawn after barely a year’s service on failing to get adequate number of business-class passengers, officials of Malindo said they had studied the market and were confident that the new route would be viable. “We are waiting for enhancement of bilateral rights to increase the number of flights to Kolkata and other cities in India. The airline has also collaborated with all stakeholders, including travel agents, to make the flight a success,” said Rama Muthy.

Another major difference has been the easing of Malaysian visa. “Travel to Malaysia for Indian tourists is facilitated by the ease of getting a visa. The hassle-free process of eNTRI that grants Indian tourists a 15-day single-entry permit to visit Malaysia and the multiple-entry eVISA help encourage more Indians to explore the destination,” said Suip.