One more reason not to have to choose between two paradise islands.
Indonesian carrier TransNusa has officially launched direct flights between Bali and Phuket. The first flight, 8B 541, left Ngurah Rai Airport on September 9 at 11:40 fully booked at 100%, bringing 174 passengers to Phuket in just 4 hours.
Schedule and flight frequency
To begin with, the flight operates 4 times a week (on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays), and from October 3, 2026 the airline is moving to a daily schedule:
- Bali (DPS) — Phuket (HKT): departure at 11:30–11:40, arrival in Phuket at 14:09–14:35.
- Phuket (HKT) — Bali (DPS): departure from Phuket at 15:35, arrival in Bali at 20:35.
All flights are operated by Airbus A320 aircraft with 174 seats.
What kind of airline is TransNusa?
Officially, TransNusa presents itself as a Premium Service Carrier, having completely dropped the low-cost model. In practice, though, it is more of a hybrid carrier (Medium Service Carrier) with upgraded service. It offers noticeably more comfort, more legroom and better service than classic budget airlines such as AirAsia or Lion Air, yet it still falls short of full-service giants on the level of Singapore Airlines or Garuda Indonesia.
Comparing the options and prices for the Bali — Phuket flight
TransNusa
- Format: Direct flight (4 hours).
- Price: From IDR 2,399,000 (~$135–150) one way on the promotional fare.
- What's included: Even the basic fare (SEAT) already includes 20 kg of checked baggage plus a carry-on. The FLEXI-PRO fare comes with 30 kg of baggage, a hot meal and priority boarding.
- Main advantage: More legroom and baggage included for a reasonable price, without paying extra for a full business class seat.
Indonesia AirAsia
- Format: Direct flight (3 hrs 50 min — 4 hours).
- Price: From IDR 1,500,000–1,900,000 (~$97–120) one way on the basic fare. Once you add 20 kg of baggage, the final price comes out to the same $135–150.
- What's included: Carry-on baggage only (7 kg).
- Main advantage: It flies 2 times a day, giving you a choice of departure times.
Scoot (via Singapore)
- Format: Flight with a connection at Changi (travel time from 6.5 to 10+ hours).
- Price: From IDR 1,200,000–2,200,000 (~$75–140).
- What's included: Carry-on baggage only.
- Main advantage: A fallback if the direct tickets are sold out or if you want a stopover in Singapore.
Singapore Airlines / Malaysia Airlines
- Format: Full-service flight with a connection in Singapore or Kuala Lumpur (from 6.5 hours).
- Price: From IDR 2,600,000–5,000,000+ (~$165–330+) one way.
- What's included: The full classic premium service (baggage from 25–30 kg, in-flight entertainment, a proper meal and drinks).
TransNusa has opened several routes in recent times. Besides Phuket, the airline has two international services — to Singapore and Perth (Australia). It also flies a number of domestic routes to rarely served islands: Wakatobi (home to the world's second-largest barrier reef), Lombok, Manado (Sulawesi) and Bima (Sumbawa).
Sources: CNNIndonesia, ANTARA
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