Low-Cost Airline Introduces Two New Direct Flights To Bali

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One of Asia’s most loved low-cost airlines has announced not one but two new direct flights to Bali.

AirAsia, which is one of the most popular airlines in South East Asia is making it even easier for tourists to explore the region, Bali included. 

The new routes will fly directly between Phuket in Thailand and Kota Kinabalu in Malaysian Borneo. Speaking to reporters, the President Director of Indonesia AirAsia, Veranita Josephine Sinaga, said that the new routes showcase AirAsia’s commitment to increasing air connectivity around Indonesia’s tourism industry. 

Singa added, “These two newest routes are the only direct flights connecting the popular destinations Denpasar-Phuket, Thailand, and Denpasar-Kota Kinabalu, which are located in Sabah, Malaysia.

The new services are available to book now and are perfect for holidaymakers who can’t decide whether to vacation in Thailand or Bali…do both!

And the Kota Kinabalu route is perfect for backpackers and travelers looking to get a little off the beaten track and explore the wonders of Sabah. 

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The first flight on the Denpasar-Kota Kinabalu route will start operating on 9th August 2024 with a and will operate three times a week, every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. 

The Denpasar-Phuket route will operate from 10th August 2024 also with a flight frequency of three times a week, namely Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Singa explained that the new routes had been created based on the successes of other flights launched earlier in the year.

She explained that since the opening of the Jakarta-Kota Kinabalu route last February, passengers have been enthusiastic about this route. Data shows that from February to May 2024, the occupancy rate reached more than 94 percent. 

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Singa said, “So Indonesia AirAsia is taking strategic steps to spread its wings and reconnect passengers from Indonesia to Kota Kinabalu via Denpasar.”  

Recent travel data revealed by the Indonesian Central Statistics Agency (BPS) shows that during 2023, tourists from Malaysia occupied the top position as the most foreign tourists visiting Indonesia with a total of 16.28 percent or 1,901,242 tourists, with Australian tourists coming in a close second place.

Likewise with Indonesia, based on data from the Sabah Immigration Department, Malaysia, in 2023, foreign tourists from Indonesia are also ranked third, or as many as 91,917 tourists visiting Sabah. 

This route will boost travel options for both Indonesian and Malaysian tourists as well as international jet setters. 

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Singa shared hopes that the opening of these routes contributed to increasing air connectivity between tourist destinations in ASEAN, making it easier for international tourists to visit several destinations.

“This encourages economic growth through increasing income, employment, and investment, as well as strengthening regional cooperation and cultural exchanges.”

It is not just AirAsia that will increase flight availability to and from Bali in the coming month or so.

At the beginning of June, Air New Zealand confirmed that their direct New Zealand – Bali flights will now operate year-round, rather than just in the high season.

Until now, travelers from New Zealand have had to lay over in Australia for hours on end if they are traveling out of the high season. 

The Air New Zealand Chief Customer and Sales Officer, Leanne Geraghty, said in a press statement, “Bookings to Bali have been strong since we relaunched our seasonal service in March 2023.

This year’s seasonal flights have proven even more popular, with thousands of Kiwis booking Bali breaks over the last few months.”

The flight time is just 9.5 hours from runway to runway, considerably reducing the travel time for New Zealand holidaymakers to Bali. 

New flight services have also been announced from Etihad Airways who will launch a new daily direct flight between Bali and Abu Dhabi on the 25th June.

The outbound flight, EY 476, will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The inbound service, flight EY 477, will run on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.