After just two months of operation, Batik Air, a subsidiary of the Indonesian Lion Air Group, has reduced its direct flight service between Canberra and Bali due to insufficient passenger demand.
Batik Air’s service, operated with a Boeing 737-800 aircraft configured to seat 162 passengers, is currently the only direct connection between Australia’s capital and the popular Indonesian holiday destination.
The route, which initially launched on June 14, 2024, with flights scheduled on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, will now operate only twice a week, eliminating the Wednesday service.
The decision to scale back the flight frequency was made mid-August 2024. The airline has indicated that the third weekly flight may be reinstated during peak travel seasons, such as the Christmas period.
Michael Thomson, Head of Aviation at Canberra Airport, expressed optimism about the route's future, despite the initial reduction in service. He highlighted that travel demand within the Canberra region could eventually support a more frequent flight schedule. Thomson compared the current situation to the early days of Fiji Airways' service from Canberra, which also began with low demand but eventually grew to a three-times-weekly operation.
“These things take time,” Thomson noted. “We saw it with Fiji that the first three months were a pretty hard slog, and then by month six, it started to turn, and they’re going very, very strongly now.”
Thomson remains hopeful that with increased awareness, more travelers will book the Canberra-Bali flights, which could lead to an expansion of the service. He emphasized the strong propensity for international travel among Canberra residents, pointing out that the region's high income levels and strong economy are favorable factors for sustained demand.
As Batik Air scales back its Canberra-Bali service, the competitive landscape is shifting. AirAsia has recently launched a new flight route from Bali to Cairns, Australia, operating three times a week. The service, which began on August 14, 2024, aims to attract travelers from Cairns and surrounding cities like Mackay and Townsville, offering them direct access to Bali and other destinations across Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Bali continues to experience a surge in tourism, on track for its busiest year on record. To accommodate the growing number of international arrivals, I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport is installing more autogates in the arrivals and departures terminals. This upgrade is expected to expedite immigration services, addressing a long-standing issue of lengthy queues for tourists.
As Bali’s popularity among international travelers, particularly from Australia, continues to grow, airlines and airport services are adapting to meet the increasing demand. The reduction in Batik Air’s Canberra-Bali flights is a temporary setback, but the potential for future growth remains strong as awareness and demand build over time.
Sources: thebalisun.com, balidiscovery.com/
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