TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Low-cost carrier Thai Lion Air, a member of Lion Air Group, has opened a direct round-trip flight route connecting Thailand and Bali. The airline will be serving the route once a day.

Chairman of the Board of Thai Lion Air Capt. Darsito Hendro Saputro, said that the addition of the new route is proof of the company's commitment to provide better schedule options, "for businessmen and tourists to Thailand or Indonesia with Thai Lion Air," according to Darsito in a written statement dated Friday, December 21, 2018.

The price for the new route is set at THB 2,655 or IDR 895,000 for a single trip. The inauguration flight took place from Don Mueang International Airport, Thailand, using Boeing 737-900ER with a registered number HS-LTS, to I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali.

The airplane transported seven cabin crews and 173 passengers,. The flight departed at 12:55 AM Thailand Standard Time (THA) and landed at 6:40 PM Central Indonesian Time (WITA).

The return trip used the same airplane type with a tail number SL-259. The plane took off at 7:20 PM WITA and landed at 11:05 PM THA, transporting seven crews and 158 passengers.

"We noticed seen consumer's enthusiasm in Indonesia --after the opening of Jakarta-Bangkok direct flight-- in using Thai Lion Air to our various destination, particularly Bangkok. The launching of the new route is an answer to the high demand on air transportation in Southeast Asia," said Darsito.

Thai Lion Air, he added, had a high commitment to support the economy of both cities as the largest metropolitan area in each respective country.

"Thus, we hope this will strengthen bilateral ties between Indonesia and Thailand through the development and enhancement in various activities other than social culture, tourism, and trade sector," Darsito explained.

MUHAMMAD HENDARTYO