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Indonesia AirAsia is set to return to Darwin this year, adding another connection between the NT capital and Bali.
The low-cost carrier will fly three times per week starting 22 March, adding nearly 1,000 weekly seats on the resumed non-stop service.
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It follows Indonesia AirAsia last year bolstering its connections to northern Australia with the launch of three weekly flights between Bali and Cairns.
The airline had previously served Darwin Airport following the exit of Garuda Indonesia in 2009, before abruptly pulling out itself in 2018 as part of a network restructure.
Bali is Indonesia AirAsia’s largest travel hub by flight capacity, airline CEO Veranita Yosephine said.
“These direct flights will cater to the enduring popularity of Bali as a destination for Australians and offer great low fare connections to over 130 destinations across the AirAsia Group network,” she said.
“Passengers from Darwin can enjoy seamless connections via Bali to destinations like Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Hong Kong and Komodo Island.”
Sandra de Kock, executive general manager of Darwin Airport operator Airport Development Group (ADG), said there is strong local demand for flights from Darwin to Bali, a route currently served only by Jetstar.
“Bali has long been the number one holiday destination for Darwin residents and these flights will undoubtedly see a surge of travellers embarking on their Indonesian adventures,” she said.
“This partnership goes beyond just flights; providing and strengthening connections to South East Asia, fostering cultural exchanges and bolstering business ties between the Northern Territory and our northern neighbours.
“We’re proud to work with AirAsia to make these services a success and support the growth of tourism and our local economy.”
The NT government has also celebrated AirAsia’s return, saying it has “regular conversations with prospective airlines” to expand aviation access into the Territory.
“AirAsia’s strong reputation as a leading global great value carrier will instil confidence in both leisure and business travellers,” she said.
“The Northern Territory Government’s reinstatement of the Office of Asian Relations underscores our commitment to enhancing access to northern markets for trade, investment, study, and skilled migration.
“This new connection will bring benefits across these areas while also boosting leisure tourism.”
