Transnusa To Launch Direct Jakarta–Penang Flights Starting Nov 24 - Exco
GEORGE TOWN, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- The Penang state government has received notification from TransNusa Aviation of a new direct flight between Jakarta’s Soekarno‑Hatta International Airport and Penang International Airport, starting November 24.
State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the TransNusa’s first-ever route to Penang aligns perfectly with Malaysia’s full preparations for Visit Malaysia 2026, reflecting state’s ongoing commitment and readiness to welcome more international travellers.
“The launch of this new route adds another vital link between Penang and Indonesia, strengthening regional air connectivity and fostering closer people-to-people and cultural ties," he said in a statement, today.
The Jakarta - Penang flight, operating under flight code 8B-633, will depart Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at 5.30 am (Jakarta time) and arrive at Penang International Airport at 9 am (Malaysia time).
The service will initially operate three times weekly (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) before increasing to daily service from December 2025 meanwhile the return flight, 8B-632, will depart Penang at 9.30 am and arrive in Jakarta at 10.55 am following the same frequency schedule.
Elaborating further, Wong emphasised that the timing is opportune, given Penang’s positioning in the upcoming Visit Malaysia 2026 and the Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026.
He said according to the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), Penang remains Malaysia’s most successful medical tourism destination, contributing about 45 per cent of the nation’s total healthcare-travel revenue.
He noted that Indonesia has consistently been Malaysia’s largest source market for medical tourism, accounting for about 65.8 per cent of national medical tourism revenue and up to 90 per cent of healthcare travel receipts in northern Malaysia are from Indonesian visitors.
"Beyond the healthcare segment, Indonesia has also long remained Penang’s top international arrival because from January to September 2025, Penang welcomed 284,364 Indonesian visitors arriving via international flights, a 2.5 per cent increase compared to 277,533 in the same period last year.
“In this context, the launch of TransNusa’s direct Jakarta-Penang route perfectly meets market demand," he said.
-- BERNAMA
