In recent weeks major airlines have been resuming their flight services to Bali. This week it was the turn of Malaysia’s Batik Air. The airline, previously known as Malindo, is now part of the Indonesian Lion Air group.
The resumption of the Kuala Lumpur-Bali route comes as welcome news for travelers of all kinds, especially long-term residents in Bali who hop from the island to the Malaysian capital regularly for visa renewals and business travel.
The flight from Kuala Lumpur landed at Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport on the afternoon of Thursday 2nd June. The 180-seater plane carried 129 passengers to Denpasar and delivered them safe and sound to the terminal building.
Travelers from Malaysia make up a big proportion of Indonesia’s total international arrivals. It is easy to see why, the countries share a border, trade agreements, and many elements of their culture. The flight time from Kuala-Lumpur to Bali is 3-hours.
Passengers were greeted by airport management staff and were blessed with marigold flower garlands and a respectful Balinese bow. Speaking to the press after the flight landed, the general manager of Ngurah Rai Airport, Handy Heryudhitiawan said ‘”We fully support the operations of Batik Air Malaysia at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.’
The route is scheduled four times a week, flying every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Heryudhitiawan confirmed that the schedule will increase as demand increases. He said that he hoped the resumption of this flight route will continue to increase international arrivals at Bali Airport.
In May 2022, Bali Airport welcomed over a million passengers; 770,000 as domestic travelers while there were just over 236,000 international passengers. Since Bali reopened its borders in February 2022 the number of international arrivals has steadily increased. The island saw a rapid influx of domestic arrivals over the Muslim festival of Eid Al-Fitr when hotel occupancy hit 60% for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic.
It is predicted that there will be another rapid increase in arrivals, this time international, during June and July. This has typically been Bali’s high season. June and July coincide with the Australian long winter break and the European summer holidays.
The resumption of Batik Air’s Kuala-Lumpur to Bali route will make it much easier for long-haul travelers to visit Bali. Kuala Lumpur is one of the world’s biggest transiting airports and offers a convenient layover for travelers heading to Bali from the United States, Canada, and some parts of Europe. While airlines like AirAsia have been operating this route for a few months, having more availability of flights makes prices more competitive and creates easier layover options.
Both Malaysia and Indonesia have scrapped the pre-arrival PCR test for Covid-19 vaccinated travelers. Indonesia has opened its visa on arrival program to include 72 countries, the list includes Bali’s top visitors, Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, the UK, and United States. Malaysia’s visa on arrival program currently offers 63 countries a 90-day ‘visa-free’ stay.
As international borders continue to open up and Covid-19 related restrictions continue to ease it will become increasingly easier for travelers to move as they did in pre-pandemic days. Travelers will be able to hop from countries across South East Asia without quarantining and PCR testing, this will help especially help the backpacking tourism market in Bali.
The flight schedule at Bali International Airport is nearly back to its ‘normal’ routine. Airline giants like Emirates have returned to the tarmac, and low-budget Australian airline JetStar has resumed its Perth-Bali flight route.
In the coming months, travelers can anticipate online travel deals popping up regularly. Bali is keen to see travelers, especially from Australia, return to the island. Before the pandemic Australian travelers made up just over a quarter of Bali’s international arrivals.
Remove All Ads & Unlock All Articles… Sign up for The Bali Sun Premium
Plan Your Bali Holiday:
Book The Best English Speaking Drivers For Airport Transfers & Tours
Choose From Thousands of Bali Hotels, Resorts, and Hostels with Free Cancellation On Most Properties
Book Cheap Flights To Bali
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance That Covers Medical Expenses In Bali
For the latest Bali News & Debate Join our Facebook Community
SUBSCRIBE TO NEW POSTS
Enter your email address to subscribe to The Bali Sun’s latest breaking news, straight to your inbox.
Wayan Bo
Saturday 4th of June 2022
Coming to pickup tourists, because for those who like to travel to strict Muslim country’s, Malaysia is offering better conditions as Indonesia, like 90 day stay on arrival instead of 35 USD VOA for one month, for example.
Randy
Tuesday 7th of June 2022
@Wayan Bo, it's amazing that I can actually understand more of what you are trying to write now. But then again what does it have to do with paying a dime to enter a country and it's majority religious beliefs?? Are you that biased in general?
Each country in the world including in the West that respect democracy follow different rules but the essence is somewhat the same. The death penalty in the US, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia do exist in the same manner. Would you also say that they are not humans as well. The issue of the death penalty in Europe has been eradicated as we know it.
There is a separation of church and State in the US for example but that does not always get through in real definition. As far as on an Indonesian ID, yes I am quite aware of that and yes it can be interpreted as discriminatory. Religion is always a private matter. However for the Indonesians it may be a way of how to address their people for different reasons such as family matters, divorce, birth, death, or inheritance that is guided under respective religious beliefs and laws. This is why there is religion added to an ID. Some Indonesians would agree that religion should not be added.
Indonesia is not an Islamic nation but it has the largest majority Muslims. The only autonomous region of Banda Aceh as we know has the Muslim Sharia law.
Randy
Monday 6th of June 2022
@Firechef, visitors would stay in Bali longer and eventually call it home rather than in Malaysia.
Wayan Bo
Monday 6th of June 2022
@Randy, strict Muslim country is that country where official law is inspired by Muslim law. For example, by my knowledge in Malaysia it’s forbidden for females to drink alcohol in public place’s - Many countries in the world have strict separation between religion and state, another country’s don’t have it. - In Indonesian ID‘s it’s indicated Religion (Agma) in most another countries it isn’t the case because of there opinion that religion is very private thing and don’t need statement in ID. Such ID statement’s can also be discriminatory. - Democracy is registered Greek trademark. Sure that there are elections in Indonesia. Democracy have to be in first place very human, for example in true democracy there are not place for death penalties. Otherwise citizens of Indonesia can get worlds image that they are not human. - Strict Muslim country for example are Iran, Afghanistan, … . Anyway, in most countries visitors haven’t to pay even a dime as entrance fee.
Randy
Sunday 5th of June 2022
@Wayan Bo, what's strict Muslim country? If you think that the implementation of a one month VOA at a cost of US $ 35 has something to do with a based faith ruling you are grossly mistaken.
Better be informed next time that a single entry into Malaysia is 30 days and it cannot be extended. If you want to stay longer you have to apply for a different Malaysia visa/pass at a cost.
In a nutshell for you to understand that Indonesia is a democratic republic with an elected legislature, a Unitary State, and a presidential system. It has 34 provinces of which 5 have special status.
Firechef
Sunday 5th of June 2022
@Wayan Bo, Indonesia should follow Malaysia example, probably will get many more visitors.