Southeast Asia’s favourite islands
New flights between Penang and Phuket. Bali connects with Melbourne
Southeast Asia’s favourite islands
New flights between Penang and Phuket, and Bali connects with Melbourne
December 12th, 2025. AirAsia Malaysia is to link two of Southeast Asia’s favourite holiday islands, Penang and Phuket with a new service which takes off on March 13th.
“Thailand consistently ranks among Penang’s top five sources of foreign tourists and in 2025 alone we have flown nearly 200,000 guests between Penang and Bangkok. With the launch of the new Penang-Phuket route, both inbound and outbound tourist traffic will increase,” said the Airlines CEO Fareh Mazputra.
The flight will operate four times a week with two different time slots. On Sundays and Mondays, flight number AK1820 will take off from Penang International Airport at 13:20 and arrive at Phuket International Airport at 13:25 local time. The return leg, flight number AK1821 leaves Phuket at 13:50 and arrives back in Phuket at 15:55.
On Wednesdays and Fridays the flight departs from Penang at 12:35 and arrives in Phuket at 12:40. The return trip leaves Phuket at 13:10 and arrives back in Penang at 15:55.
The flight duration will be about sixty-five minutes and the aircraft will probably be one of the carriers Airbus A320s.
Bali to Melbourne
Meanwhile AirAsia Indonesia has opened booking for a daily service linking Bali and Melbourne, Australia.
“While Bali is an Australian favourite, AirAsia’s extensive network and Fly-Thru service opens up opportunities for passengers to connect seamlessly to major destinations such as Phuket, Bangkok, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, without the need to collect baggage during transit,” said Achmad Sadikin Abdurachman,Acting CEO of AirAsia Indonesia.
Flight number QZ410 will depart from Denpasar Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali at 20:10 and arrive in Melbourne at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport at 05:00 the next morning. The return journey, flight number QZ411 will leave Melbourne at 07:00 and arrive back on Bali at 10:25.
The outbound flight will last a little under six hours, and he return approximately six and half hours. An Airbus A320 aircraft will serve the route.
Picture: Overlooking Kata Noi, Kata Yai and Karon Beaches from Promthep Cape, Phuket via Wikimedia Commons
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