Ipoh: Batik Air Malaysia has announced the launch of the Ipoh-Singapore route on Dec 1, marking a new milestone in the flight network of Sultan Azlan Shah Airport (LTSAS), according to state Tourism, Industry, Investment and Corridor Development Committee chairman Loh Sze Yee.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, this significant development was the result of the state government’s continuous efforts to strengthen Perak’s aviation and tourism sectors. Loh Sze Yee stated that with Batik Air operating the route using a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, Ipoh now has greater connectivity, facilitating travel to Singapore for business, education, and family purposes.

He noted that the state government, through the State Economic Strategy Unit together with Tourism Perak, engaged in discussions with Batik Air’s top management in April before reaching an agreement on the route. The decision to open the route was influenced by Singapore’s role as a major international tourism market and as a transit hub for the state’s residents travelling abroad.

Loh Sze Yee also mentioned that the state government will persist in its efforts to increase the number of international flights to Ipoh, encouraging cooperation from airlines and the tourism industry to enhance Perak’s competitiveness as an international gateway. LTSAS recorded 540,000 passengers in 2024, reflecting an increase of 4.6 percent compared with the previous year, and as of May 2025, passenger numbers had reached nearly 220,000.

The airport was upgraded for RM8 million last April, boosting its capacity from 240 to 510 passengers per hour, and from 500,000 to 700,000 passengers annually.