PALEMBANG, Indonesia, 21 July 2025: AirAsia Malaysia (AK) has resumed international services to Palembang, Indonesia, from Kuala Lumpur, reinstating international status to Palembang’s Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport.
The reinstatement of international connectivity presents a valuable opportunity to revitalise local tourism, attract more international visitors, especially from Malaysia and spur growth across supporting sectors such as transport, hospitality, and food and beverages.
Indonesia is targeting between 14.6 and 16 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2025, and enhanced regional access by AirAsia will be vital in supporting this goal, especially for secondary cities like Palembang.
Domestic airlines serve six destinations from Palembang airport — Jakarta, Batam, Pangkai Pinang, Kuala Namu, Yogyakarta and Surabaya.
Quoting BPS-Statistics Indonesia, South Sumatra’s Governor, H Herman Deru, commented: “In 2024, the Room Occupancy Rate* for star hotels in South Sumatra reached 51.85%. We expect a significant increase, especially in the tourism industry and economic growth, in the months ahead.”
AirAsia Malaysia CEO Dato Captain Fareh Mazputra added: “Resuming our Palembang route has been a long-standing priority since the pandemic. As a high-demand destination, especially for Balik Kampung travel during Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Aidiladha, we are thrilled to see the airport reopened for international services. This new daily service enhances connectivity between Malaysia and Indonesia, contributing to a total of 205 weekly flights operated by AirAsia between both countries. By reconnecting Palembang to our extensive network, we’re not only linking families and cultures but also creating new pathways for economic exchange, investment, and tourism. We are proud to serve underserved and emerging destinations like Palembang, unlocking greater access and opportunity for communities that have long awaited international connectivity.”
Flight schedule
Daily direct flights are scheduled using an A320 for the one-hour and 30-minute flight.
AK462 departs Kuala Lumpur (KUL) at 0935 and arrives in Palembang (PLM) at 1005.
AK461 departs Palembang (PLM) at 1030 and arrives in Kuala Lumpur (KUL) at 1330.
AirAsia Malaysia (AK) now operates flights from Kuala Lumpur to 15 destinations across Indonesia, including Jakarta, Bali (Denpasar), Medan, Yogyakarta, Banda Aceh, Makassar, Padang, Pekanbaru, Balikpapan, Labuan Bajo, Lombok, Palembang, Semarang (commencing 5 September 2025) as well as services from Penang to Jakarta and Medan.
“Palembang, capital of Indonesia’s South Sumatra province, is a port city on the Musi River. The river, scene of a floating market, is lined with houses on stilts and spanned by the Ampera Bridge.
“Located in the eastern lowlands of southern Sumatra, Palembang is the second most populous city in Sumatra, after Medan, and the 12th most populous city in Indonesia.” (Wikipedia).
