Batik Air Will Cut Back its Direct Flights from Canberra to Bali Service

One of Indonesia's leading airlines, Batik Air, has confirmed it is reducing its direct flights between the Australian capital, Canberra, and Denpasar. For the inaugural service back in June, Batik Air scheduled three direct flight routes between Canberra and Bali in a week. But after just two months into operation, Batik Air will eliminate its Wednesday service and keep Fridays and Sundays, starting from mid-August.

So, what caused this cutback? And how does it affect Canberrans who want to visit Bali, or have planned a trip only to have it cancelled?

The Initial Service from Canberra to Bali

When it was announced that Batik Air would serve direct flights to Bali, the inaugural service on 14 June 2024 was a big spectacle. The arrival of Batik Air in a Boeing B737-800 with a total of 162 seats was given a Welcome to Country ceremony at the Canberra Airport. The ACT Government and the Indonesian representatives attended the event, and all the passengers on board were given gifts.

Batik Air's move was positively received. It became the second airline to offer international service in a year after Fiji Airways offered direct service to Nadi three times a week. The direct flight to Bali would provide Canberrans with more than 50 destinations, including some of the hottest spots in Asia, such as Hong Kong, Malaysia and India, making travel more accessible for passengers from Australia.

The Initial Flight Schedules

These were the three flight schedules of Batik Air when it was launched in June:

The Mission Behind The Direct Service from Canberra to Bali

The Group Strategy Director for Batik Air, Chandran Rama Muthy, said when the new service was announced in February that connecting Canberra to Bali was just the first step. He mentioned that the objective was to offer service to other parts of Indonesia in the near future, including Labuan Bajo, Makassar, Lombok, Surabaya, Jakarta, Yogyakarta, and Manado.

He added:

We are dedicated to enhancing connectivity and making travel more accessible for passengers from Australia and Indonesia, and this new route reaffirms our dedication to that objective.

The Reasons Behind Batik Air Reducing Flight Schedules

The Canberra Airport Head of Aviation, Michael Thomson, has confirmed that the service's elimination will impact Canberrans who are already excited about escaping the Canberra winter for the sunny and tropical Bali shores.

He said:

When you start a new route, it usually takes six to nine months to get established. It’ll take a little while ‘til we see more and more people be aware of the service and more and more people book the service.

Currently, therefore, no flights are scheduled between August 25 and September 13 from Canberra to Bali.

Thomson believes that Batik Air's action is based solely on the low demand during the slow season, so perhaps it will reinstate the original schedule once the peak holiday season starts. He adds that the population of Canberra represents enough potential for Batik Air to have thrice-weekly flight schedules as more and more people are willing to travel internationally.

What Does It Mean for Tourism in Bali?

Although Batik Air hasn't completely ended the service from Canberra to Bali, the decision will probably not greatly impact tourism in Bali. With the Ngurah Rai International Airport installing more auto gates for international arrival and departure to speed up the immigration process, the Indonesian government is still confident that this will not impact Australians. After all, Australians still make up the largest number of visitors to Bali.

On the contrary, Batik Air's competitor, AirAsia, has just taken its maiden flight to Cairns, Queensland, from Bali, on 14 August 2024. AirAsia will also schedule three service flights per week to the Island of Gods. Hence, this move is certainly going to give Australians more options to travel internationally.

While it is a pity that Batik Air has had to take this step, which has frustrated many Canberrans who booked tickets for Wednesday flights and found their plans disrupted, the Canberra airport analysis suggests that the Canberra‒Bali route is very sustainable. We certainly hope that Batik Air will resume its three-times-a-week flight schedule, especially during the end-of-the-year holiday season.