Beginning Nov 8, Indonesia's third largest carrier, Sriwijaya Air, will have flights from Ipoh to Medan, following the signing of a coach-sharing agreement with Flying Fox Airways Sdn Bhd, a Perak-based company offering the service.
The carrier will be operating between the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport and the Kuala Namu Airport in Medan, Indonesia.
"The new air service, using Boeing 737-400, can ferry up to 163 passengers, with flights on Monday and Fridays," Flying Fox Airways chief executive officer Daniel Lee said after the launch of the company by State Tourism, Health and Cultural Committee chairman Nolee Ashilin Mohd Radzi on Friday.
"The main advantage of flying with Sriwijaya Air is convenience. The ticket is priced about RM400 one-way, including all charges.
"We are happy to note that seats for the Ipoh-Medan flights are 80 per cent booked for the next six months with the balance of 20 per cent reserved for walk-in customers.
Lee said the vision of Flying Fox was to make Ipoh a one-stop centre where the city will be a check-out point to international destinations including Bangladesh, China, Thailand, Macau and Australia.
"Meanwhile, Kuala Namu Airport, which is near Medan, is expected to become the new international transit centre for Sumatera.
"Both the Kuala Namu and the Sultan Azlan Shah airports will function as our international hubs, with Ipoh serving as our main base and Kuala Namu as a transit hub.
He added that the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport had been underutilised.
The airport was recently re-opened after it was upgraded.
Its runway was lengthened from 1.8km to 2km.
"We hope to make the airport the second northern hub for international destinations after Bayan Lepas International Airport in Penang.
"For that, Flying Fox Airways intends to purchase two planes which will be based at the airport next year."
Daniel Lee (fifth from left) after the signing of the memorandum of understanding with travel agencies at the launch of Flying Fox Airlines Sdn Bhd. Pic by Supian Ahmad
