Sarawak based airline, AirBorneo Airways is set to expand its international network with direct flights between Kuching and Jakarta from October 2026, strengthening air connectivity between Sarawak and Indonesia.
Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg confirmed the upcoming route during the postponement ceremony of the Batang Kayan Regatta in Lundu on September 27.
According to Abang Johari, the Kuching–Jakarta flight is expected to take about one hour and 20 minutes, providing a direct link between Sarawak and Indonesia’s capital.
The route had earlier been announced as part of AirBorneo’s expansion beyond its traditional rural air service role.
In July, Abang Johari said AirBorneo had secured an operating slot at Jakarta’s international airport and expected the service to begin within two months.
The airline has also since hinted their next destination starts with the letter ‘J’, further confirming what seems like a Jakarta route.
AirBorneo expands regional network
The Jakarta service follows AirBorneo’s entry into international operations with the launch of its Kuching – Singapore route on July 22, 2026.
The airline also began its regional jet operations with direct Kuching-Kuala Lumpur flights on July 20, using Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
AirBorneo’s international expansion is part of a wider plan to establish stronger connections between Sarawak and major cities in Southeast Asia.
In July, Abang Johari said the airline intended to expand to other ASEAN destinations, with Jakarta identified as one of the next destinations after Singapore.
Jakarta route could support tourism and healthcare
The new Kuching-Jakarta connection is also expected to support tourism, business and healthcare-related travel between Sarawak and Indonesia.
Abang Johari previously highlighted the potential for the route to contribute to medical tourism in Kuching, pointing to the city’s growing private healthcare sector and the development and expansion of several hospitals.
The Sarawak Premier also linked improved air connectivity with tourism opportunities in destinations such as Tanjung Datu and Telok Melano, including sport fishing and post-treatment tourism.
Following Jakarta, AirBorneo is also considering further international destinations. Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah previously said Bangkok and Jeju Island were among the destinations being considered for future direct connectivity from Kuching.
With the Kuching-Jakarta route expected to begin in October, AirBorneo is moving into a new phase of regional expansion, giving Sarawak a direct air link with one of Southeast Asia’s largest metropolitan areas.
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