Malaysia is asking for more flights from Bengaluru and other Indian cities, not just to Kuala Lumpur but to popular tourist spots like Langkawi, Penang, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, and Johor Bahru. Datuk Manoharan Periasamy, chairman of the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, said on February 13 that talks are ongoing with the Indian government to add new flights and routes. Mr. Periasamy said, "Since Malaysian-based carriers already filled up their quota, we want to encourage Indian-based carriers to operate beyond Kuala Lumpur, to Langkawi, to Penang, to Kota Kinabalu, to Kuching, to Johor Bahru or other beach or island destinations with air connectivity." Currently, IndiGo is the only airline flying directly from Bengaluru to Langkawi. Malaysia sees great chances for Indian carriers to tap into newer destinations. India is a key market for Malaysia, with 1,565,194 Indian tourists arriving in 2025—up 14.6% from 1,365,387 in 2024. For Visit Malaysia Year 2026, Malaysia aims for 2.1 million Indian visitors. Over 70% of these tourists come from South India. "Our major tourist arrival from all over India is from the south. It is coming from Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kerala and Tamil Nadu," added Mr. Periasamy. Malaysia and India have strong air ties with 238 weekly direct flights from 14 Indian cities, offering 47,399 seats. South India alone accounts for 151 flights and 29,541 seats weekly, making travel easier. Mr. Hishamuddin Mustafa, director of Tourism Malaysia Chennai, said Bengaluru is one of their strongest markets in South India, with big travel potential in leisure, luxury, MICE, weddings, and corporate sectors.