Indonesia AirAsia Opens Direct Flights from Bali to Thailand's Phuket, Malaysia's Kinabalu

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Low-cost carrier Indonesia AirAsia has launched two international routes flying directly from Denpasar, Bali to Phuket, Thailand and Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. The airline’s President Director Veranita Yosephine Sinaga said the opening of the new routes was a testament to the airline’s efforts to expand air network connectivity and strengthen Indonesia's tourism potential.

Indonesia AirAsia, she said, was committed to creating breakthroughs in opening various flight routes to ease passengers to travel from one destination to another. “Like these two latest routes, which are the only direct flights connecting the popular destinations of Denpasar-Phuket, Thailand and Denpasar-Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia,” Veranita said on Thursday, June 13.

The first flight on the Denpasar-Kota Kinabalu route will commence on August 9. The service will be available 3 times a week; on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. Meanwhile, the Denpasar-Phuket route will make its maiden flight on August 10, and will be available 3 times a week; on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

According to Veranita, air passengers were enthusiastic about the launch of the Jakarta-Kota Kinabalu route last February. From February to May 2024, the occupancy rate reached more than 94 percent. “So Indonesia AirAsia has taken a strategic step to expand its wings and reconnect passengers from Indonesia to Kota Kinabalu via Denpasar.”

Statistics Indonesia (BPS) recorded that Malaysian tourists dominated foreign visits in 2023, accounting for 16.28 percent or 1,901,242 tourists. Meanwhile, Malaysia's Sabah Immigration Department said Indonesian tourist visits ranked third with a total of 91,917 in 2023.  

The BPS also reported a significant increase in Thai tourists to Indonesia of 82.88 percent or 111,786 visits in 2023, compared with 61,128 visits in 2022.

Veranita hoped that the new direct flights would further boost the number of foreign tourist visits this year and contribute to the Tourism Ministry’s target of 17 million visits.

JONIANSYAH HARDJONO

Editor’s Choice: Indonesia AirAsia Offers Free Seats, Lowest Ticket Fares on Favorite International Routes

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News