Direct Russia-Bali Flight Launches September 2024

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A new direct Moscow-Bali flight service is set to launch on 17th September.

Since borders reopened after pandemic lockdowns, there have been no direct flight services from Russia to Bali.

All that is about to change with Russian airline Aeroflot set to launch a new service this month. 

Rumors circulating online have been substantiated by the General Manager of Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Handy Heryudhitiawan.

He confirmed that officials from the airport are working with the airline to prepare for the launch of a new service. 

Speaking to reporters, Heryudhitiawan explained, “Until now, we continue to communicate with various parties regarding the Aeroflot flight plan with the Moscow-Bali route.”

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He added, “Operationally, of course, we are ready to accept airlines with any route as long as they have met the regulatory requirements such as slot approval, flight permit, and technical and administrative readiness that must be met.” 

Heryudhitiawan noted that Russian passport holders’ demand for travel to Bali continues to grow.

He revealed, “Until July, based on the crossing data that we obtained from Immigration, 95,911 foreigners from Russia entered Bali Island via international flights.” 

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The addition of the Moscow-Bali route will join the existing weekly flight operations of 36 international flight routes served by 39 airlines and 22 domestic flight routes served by 11 airlines.

The flight schedule from Moscow to Bali is set to operate every Tuesday and Saturday. The outbound service is set to depart Sheremetyevo Alexander S Airport. Pushkin Moscow at 14.40 local time and arrive at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Bali Airport the following morning at 08.05 WITA.

The return service will depart from Denpasar every Wednesday and Sunday, departing at 10.05 WITA with flight number SU 0297. The return service will arrive at Sheremetyevo Alexander S Airport. Pushkin at 17.55 local time. As of 3rd October, the flight schedule is set to increase to three times weekly.

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Bali Airport is on track to see its busiest year on record. Ahead of the Africa-Indonesian Forum, the Minister of Law and Human Rights, Supratman Andi Agtas, visited Bali Airport to ensure all operations were running smoothly for tourists, travelers, and special delegations.

With the results of the inspection, Minister Agtas told reporters, “We are jointly checking the facilities and infrastructure and directly monitoring the immigration inspection process for newly arrived passengers, including the readiness of service counters for foreign nationals, autogates, and special counters for the delegates of the 2024 IAF Summit.”

Russian airlines have been limited in their flight operation options due to Western sanctions imposed in late 2022.

Before the pandemic, Aeroflot Group was operating regular flights to Bali. Speaking to the media in July, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Airlangga Hartarto, explained, “Direct flights between cities in Indonesia and Russia will undoubtedly ease efforts to increase tourist visits and aid the flow of export and import logistics.”

With the launch of a new direct flight service from Russia to Bali and a new Consulate General for the Russian Federation set to open in Bali in late 2024 too, the relationship between the two destinations appears to be strengthening. 

The much anticipated plan to establish a new Consulate General in Bali was confirmed by the Russian Ambassador to Indonesia, Sergei Tolchenov, on the 19th of August.

He explained, “The Government of the Russian Federation has taken the decision to establish a Consulate General in Denpasar, Bali. This is an important step considering the large number of Russian citizens who visit this island.” 

He continued, “We feel it is our obligation to facilitate and provide protection to our citizens abroad, especially in Bali, where the number of tourists continues to increase.”

A Consulate General, unlike an ambassador, is often stationed in a major city and is tasked with ensuring assistance in local diplomatic and bureaucratic relations and providing assistance for citizens of their country living in said country, city, or region.