Sky Aviation, an Indonesian airline, today inaugurated its twice-weekly flights between Tanjung Pinang in the Riau Islands of Indonesia and Malacca.

The airline is scheduled to operate the flights every Wednesday and Sunday, with the ticket priced at RM170.

Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam welcomed the 38 passengers on the inaugural flight which touched down in Malacca at 11.15am.

Among the passengers was Sky Aviation adviser Chappy Hakim and Riau Islands general administration assistant Syed Agil Syed Usman Alattas, who represented the governor.

Mohd Ali said the airline had plans to add another route, from Jambi to Malacca, next month. It is already operating a flight from Pekan Baru to Malacca.

He said Malacca received 350,133 tourists from Indonesia last year, 80,056 of whom were “medical tourists” who sought treatment at the three specialist hospitals in Melaka which they felt offered affordable rates.  

- Bernama