April 16, 2025 | 11:22 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The low-cost airline, AirAsia, with flight code (FD) operated by Thai AirAsia, has announced a new direct flight route from Phuket, Thailand, to the Indonesian city of Medan. The new flight route will start operating on June 27, 2025, four times a week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Head of Commercial Thai AirAsia Tansita Akraritpirom stated that this flight is expected to boost tourism and the economy of both countries. "Phuket continues to thrive as a top-tier travel hub in the region, and we’re committed to strengthening its connectivity," said Tansita in a written statement received by Tempo on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Over the past year, according to Tansita, AirAsia has actively expanded its international network to and from Phuket, including new direct flights to India and various ASEAN countries. The Phuket-Medan route is a strategic move to reach new tourism markets and strengthen its operational base in Phuket.
"Travelers now have more reasons to explore beyond Bangkok, with direct access to Indonesia’s rich culture and natural beauty," said Tansita.
Head of Indonesia AirAsia Affairs & Policy, Eddy Krismeidi Soemawilaga, added that the opening of this route presents a highly positive opportunity, not only for the international connectivity it proposes to Medan, but also as a strategic step in developing cross-country tourism.
The beauty of Phuket and Medan
Phuket is the largest island in Thailand and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia. Known for its beautiful beaches, vibrant nightlife, and various water activities, Phuket attracts millions of tourists every year.
According to data from statista.com, in 2024, Phuket recorded the arrival of more than 11.3 million tourists, generating more than 388 billion Baht for the local economy. Meanwhile, Medan is the largest Indonesian city outside of Java and has a very distinctive cultural, historical, and culinary wealth.
Medan is also the main gateway to Lake Toba, one of the largest volcanic lakes in the world, surrounded by lush green mountains. Medan is also known as a multicultural city, with a blend of Batak, Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Javanese cultures that enrich the tourist experience.
In addition, the capital of North Sumatra Province has also become one of the destination cities in Thailand's official tourism promotion program, such as the "Amazing Thailand Road Show to Indonesia 2024," demonstrating Thailand's high interest and commitment to building cultural and tourist connections with this city.
Based on data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) of North Sumatra, throughout 2024, there were 250,413 foreign tourists visiting this area, an increase of 26.32 percent compared to the previous year.
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