PENANG - Indonesian Low Cost Carrier (LCC) Citilink Indonesia is gearing up to move further into the region complementing its connectivity by serving the ASEAN countries through the opening of the new Jakarta-Penang route starting on March 25th, 2018 marking the global expansion.
"Citilink Indonesia’s new Jakarta-Penang flight will further strengthen the benefits and objectives of the ASEAN Economic Community establishment in order to facilitate the population’s dynamic mobility and ultimately open up business opportunities and alliances with Malaysia, as well as other ASEAN member countries," said acting Citilink Indonesia’s President Director Fransetya Hutabarat after arriving at the Penang International Airport, Penang, Sunday (25/3).
Fransetya said, Citilink Indonesia’s next target is aiming to fly to other neighboring countries which considered to have great potential in providing benefits for the tourism and trade growth.
"Nevertheless, as a rising economic community, a strong competition climate exists in the region especially in providing service benefits to its passengers, not least in the aviation industry. Passengers are increasingly aware of quality services, with a wide range of choices and also good accessibility," said Fransetya.
“The daily route from both Penang-Jakarta by Indonesian low cost carrier, Citilink Indonesia, will provide a platform for business and leisure travelers. This inaugural flight by Citilink Indonesia will be a new member of airlines operating at Penang International Airport,” said Datuk Badlisham Ghazali, managing director of Malaysia Airports.
Datuk Badlisham Ghazali added that “We are also pleased to announce that in conjunction with the launch of this new flight route, selected outlets at our airport such as Eraman Duty Free, Plaza Premium Lounge, Vinstella, Royal Selangor, CIMB Bureau De Change and Bagz Bar are giving out special discounts to Citilink Indonesia’s passengers.”
The new route will definitely contribute boosting to passengers growth at Penang International Airport. Citilink Indonesia is the second new international airline after Qatar Airways to fly to Penang this year. In 2017, the airport served 7.2 million passengers and handled 69,000 flight movements.
Citilink Indonesia flights to Penang, is expected to provide options for travelers to carry out their trip for any purposes starting from leisure, business or even medical activities. Hopefully with more flying options, Citilink Indonesia’s Jakarta-Penang flight can boost the tourism growth in both destinations, Indonesia and Malaysia.
In addition, the Jakarta-Penang flight also shows Citilink Indonesia's commitment in supporting the Indonesian government's "Visit Wonderful Indonesia 2018" tourism program to meet the 15 percent of the targeted 17 million tourist arrivals target by the end of 2018.
Penang, Malaysia became Citilink Indonesia's second international flight after Dili, East Timor which was opened in May 2017, and become one of the airline’s "Go Regional" strategic steps in expanding its business to the ASEAN region, following the Four Star certification for LCC award from Skytrax received at the begining of 2018.
Citilink Indonesia’s Management establishes to expand into the ASEAN region in 2018, a number of new international destinations have been aimed to be established before the middle of the year.
The new Jakarta - Penang flight will be flying daily from Terminal 3 Ultimate of Soekarno Hatta Airport, Cengkareng at 09.55 and landed at Penang International Airport, Malaysia at 13:25 local time. While the flight from Penang departed at 14:50 local time and landed in Jakarta at 16:20 pm.
Currently, Citilink Indonesia has flown to 66 flight routes and 268 frequency flights per day to 33 cities in Indonesia and region with the strength of 50 Airbus A320 units, which consist of five A320 NEO with the latest advanced low fuel technology.
At the beginning of 2018, Citilink Indonesia received a four-star certification for the Low Cost Carrier from Skytrax that makes the airline is in line with other world class airlines such as Norwegian Air and EasyJet from the UK. Citilink Indonesia become the first LCC in Asia and the third in the world to receive the global prestigious aviation recognition.
Besides, Citilink Indonesia is also designated as the best air transport service company in managing the aviation safety aspect throughout 2017 by the Indonesian Transportation Ministry and awarded for the Top IT Implementation on transportation sector 2017.