Top International Airlines Respond To Increasing Demand For Bali Travel 

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Demand for travel in Bali continues to rise as we head into the latter end of 2024.

With Bali set to welcome a record number of international tourists in 2024, airlines are negotiating increased flight services with managers at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International.

September has seen the return of direct flight service between Bali and Russia for the first time since the pandemic began.

The direct Moscow-Denpasar service will operate twice weekly and is operated by the Russian airline Aeroflot.

The launch of the flight service sparked some kickback from tourism leaders in Bali who are concerned that the ever-increasing number of international flight routes is leading to more foreigners abusing the visa on arrival, tourism, and socio-cultural visas.

Nevertheless, as the direct flight service between Russia and Indonesia resumes, more major international airlines are announcing increased services in and out of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International.

In April 2025, Etihad Airways will add a flight services between the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, Bali and the Indonesian capital Jakarta.

On 25th June 2024, Etihad Airways launched its first direct service between Bali and Abu Dhabi. The route has received an astronomical amount of interest from international tourists, leading to the airline announcing an increased flight frequency just three months after the first touchdown in Denpasar. 

Currently, the Abu Dhabi EY 476 flight operates four times weekly into Denpasar, flying every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.

The inbound service, Bali to Abu Dhabi, operates every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Starting in April 2025, the service will operate daily between Bali and Abu Dhabi. 

Demand for travel to Indonesia from Abu Dhabi has grown rapidly, too. In April 2025, Abu Dhabi to Jakarta’s flight service will increase its flight frequency by running twice daily.

In a press statement, Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, Arik De, said, “The response to our Bali route was extraordinary, with a load factor exceeding 90 percent in the first months of operation.”

He added, “Our participation in the Bali International Air Show celebrates the success of our relationship with Indonesia and highlights our commitment to further enhance our ties with this dynamic and growing market.”

The Bali International Air Show, hosted at Bali Airport last week, has been seen as a resounding success both for the aviation industry and for Bali Province as hosts. 

De told reporters how Eithad is providing travelers with a premium flight experience whether they are traveling in economy or business class.

He shared, “In Economy class, the latest 787 offers lighter seats and, therefore, more fuel efficient, which provides extraordinary comfort to guests. Chairs with a slimmer profile give a feeling of wider space for every guest.”

In a statement issued in December 2023, at the announcement of the launch of a Bali – Abu Dhabi flight service, the CEO of Etihad Airways, Antonoaldo Neves, wrote, “We are thrilled to announce our first ever flight to Bali.”

“This exciting development follows closely on the heels of our dynamic Summer ’24 scheduled, reinforcing our dedication to expanding our network in tune with the needs of our customers so they can travel to their destination in comfort and style.”

The Etihad Airways Abud Dhabi to Bali flight service is not only of benefit for travelers based in the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi Airport is one of the world’s busiest airport transit hubs.

Most long-haul tourists to Bali having to take a layover either in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, or Hong Kong.

The option of jumping on a connecting flight in Abu Dhabi gives more options in terms of flight connection times across time zones and more cost-effective options depending on the origin of the journey.