Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Tourism Board (STB) welcomed Batik Air’s new direct service between Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) and Incheon International Airport, Seoul, describing it as a major boost to the State’s tourism industry.
The thrice-weekly flights, which began on Saturday (Sept 12), strengthen Sabah’s position as a gateway for South Korean travellers, one of its fastest-growing international markets.
The inaugural flight was greeted at KKIA with a traditional water-cannon salute, bead garlanding of passengers, gift packs and cultural performances showcasing Sabah’s warm hospitality.
STB Deputy Chief Executive Officer Tay Shu Lan said the service would further enhance connectivity and benefit the State’s economy.
“On behalf of the State Government and Sabah Tourism Board, we extend a very warm welcome to all arriving passengers and our sincere appreciation to Batik Air for their confidence in selecting Sabah as a preferred destination,” she said after the welcome ceremony here.
She said with Batik Air joining the Korea-Sabah sector, weekly flights from South Korea to Sabah now stand at 35, including 32 from Incheon and three from Busan, which are served by five airlines.
“We are confident this new route will be a success, bringing more visitors to experience our unique culture and breathtaking natural beauty,” she said.
Tay also noted that a Sabah roadshow involving 11 travel partners will take place in Korea next week to further promote the destination.
“Korea has consistently remained Sabah’s third-largest source of international visitors since the reopening of borders,” Tay said.
Tourism Malaysia Deputy Director General (Promotion II) Samuel Lee Tai Hung said the service was timely, reflecting South Korea’s strong demand for Sabah.
“From January to July this year, Sabah recorded nearly 103,060 arrivals from South Korea, making it one of the State’s largest and fastest-growing international markets. In 2024 alone, 192,059 Korean visitors were recorded,” he said.
Lee noted that Malaysia as a whole welcomed 336,000 South Korean visitors in the first seven months of 2025, with one in three choosing Sabah.
He said connectivity was the key driver for growth, and Tourism Malaysia would continue to support Sabah through promotions in Korea, including leveraging its Seoul office and upcoming trade events.
Batik Air Communications and Promotions Head Suresh Vanan said the airline was proud to partner with both STB and Tourism Malaysia.
“This new service marks an exciting step in Batik Air’s network growth, particularly in connecting East Malaysia to key cities across Asia.
“We are confident this direct link will create more opportunities for cultural exchange, tourism growth and business collaboration,” he said.
He said Batik Air’s Incheon (ICN)-Kota Kinabalu (BKI) route currently operates three times a week on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with the airline confident of upgrading the frequency to daily flights in the near future.
Tourism Malaysia is supporting the route through its International and Charter Flight Matching Grant (GSPC) programme as part of preparations for Visit Malaysia 2026.
The South Korean market has shown strong recovery since the reopening of borders, with industry stakeholders expecting the new service to further boost arrivals, hotel occupancy, retail spending and eco-tourism demand, in line with Sabah’s growth targets for 2025 and beyond.
For more information and bookings, travellers can download the Batik Air mobile app or visit www.batikair.com.
Also present were Tourism Malaysia Sabah Director Haryanty Abu Bakar, Batik Air Marketing Head Bavani Veeriah, Batik Air Head Line Management East Malaysia Wilfred Wong, and airport authorities.
