KUALA LUMPUR: Batik Air has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China’s leading digital payment service provider, YeePay, to enhance air connectivity and digital travel solutions between Malaysia and China, in support of the country’s tourism growth ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026.

The partnership aims to integrate digital payment services and air ticket distribution, enabling Chinese travellers to enjoy a more seamless booking experience through familiar payment platforms while strengthening Batik Air’s presence in one of its key international markets.

The collaboration also complements the Malaysia-China mutual visa-free arrangement, which has contributed to a steady increase in tourist arrivals from China following its implementation.

Batik Air Chief Executive Officer Datuk Chandran Rama Muthy said China remains one of Malaysia’s most important tourism source markets, with travel demand continuing to gain momentum.

He said Malaysia welcomed more than 2.17 million Chinese visitors in the first half of 2025 alone, representing a 35.6 per cent year-on-year increase.

“With Visit Malaysia 2026 on the horizon and stronger bilateral connectivity through the mutual visa-free arrangement, we see tremendous opportunities to make travel more accessible and seamless for Chinese travellers.

“This partnership with YeePay reflects our shared vision of building a smarter travel ecosystem by combining connectivity, convenience and trusted digital services. By making Batik Air more accessible through familiar booking channels and payment methods, we are enhancing the overall customer journey while strengthening our footprint in the Chinese market,” he said.

Batik Air currently operates direct scheduled services from Kuala Lumpur to more than 10 destinations in China, including Shanghai and Guangzhou, reinforcing its role as a key airline connecting China with Malaysia and the wider ASEAN region.

Under the partnership, YeePay will strengthen Batik Air’s digital payment capabilities while expanding the airline’s reach across China’s travel distribution network, making it easier for travellers to discover, book and visit Malaysia.

Meanwhile, YeePay Co-Founder Yu Chen described the collaboration as an important milestone in the company’s global airline payment services.

He said backed by more than two decades of experience in aviation and travel payments, YeePay would continue enhancing its full-scenario, multi-currency and multi-country digital travel solutions.

“We look forward to working with more international airlines expanding into the Chinese market. Through payment technology, we hope to strengthen travel connectivity between China, Malaysia and Southeast Asia, unlock the potential of regional tourism and contribute to a more open and mutually beneficial aviation ecosystem,” he said.

Both parties also expressed confidence that the partnership would create further opportunities for cooperation as regional connectivity continues to strengthen under initiatives such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), supporting sustainable tourism growth and closer economic integration across the region.