“Following the reinstatement of SMB II Palembang’s international status through Minister of Transportation Decree No. KM 26 in April 2025, AirAsia and several other airlines have shown interest in opening international routes,” Chairman of South Sumatra Masata, Herlan Aspiudin, stated in Palembang on Sunday.
Herlan said that AirAsia has scheduled its inaugural flight from SMB II Palembang to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for July 18, 2025.
Other airlines are expected to follow suit, offering services on the same route as well as a new route connecting Palembang to Singapore.
Scoot is one of the airlines currently considering opening the Palembang–Singapore route from SMB II Airport.
Previously, SMB II Palembang had operated several international flights to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, including direct flights for Umrah pilgrims to Jeddah.
“Airlines that previously served these international routes are expected to resume service soon, and hopefully more routes to additional countries will be added,” Herlan added.
Meanwhile, South Sumatra Transportation Agency Head Arinarsa affirmed the government’s support for any airline seeking to open new air services from SMB II Palembang.
He emphasized that international routes from Palembang to other Asian countries hold huge potential, as many South Sumatra residents travel abroad, particularly to neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.
“People in South Sumatra travel internationally for education, tourism, and medical treatment,” he explained.
“These factors have drawn the attention of many airlines, making South Sumatra an attractive region for expanding international flight routes,” Arinarsa noted.
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Translator: Primayanti
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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