Kuta, Bali (ANTARA) - Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno stated that three foreign airlines had proposed new and additional routes to Bali.
"We are making all-out efforts in 2024 for additional flights to Bali, especially before the Chinese New Year holiday," he remarked after attending a coordination meeting with several stakeholders at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali on Thursday.
The minister stated that the foreign airline was Juneyao Airlines from Shanghai, China, which is scheduled to begin regular first flight to Bali on January 20, 2024, to welcome the 2024 Chinese New Year holiday season.
Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines plans to increase flight frequency on the Istanbul-Bali-Istanbul route.
However, Uno has yet to furnish details about plans for additional flights from Turkish Airlines.
In addition, Etihad Airways plans to make its first flight scheduled for April 2024 serving the Abu Dhabi-Bali-Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) route, the minister remarked.
Uno said that the first flight is expected to support quality and sustainable tourism due to increased flight connectivity.
"Additional connectivity from this number of flights can reach the main quality tourism markets, namely Australia, America, Europe, and Asia," he remarked.
Based on data from the state-owned airport operator, Angkasa Pura 1, at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in 2023, the number of air passengers reached 21.4 million, or an increase of 71 percent as compared to the previous year when the figure was recorded at 12.5 million.
The number of aircraft served by the airport also increased, from 56 percent, or 87,558 planes, in 2022 to 136,503 aircraft throughout 2023.
Meanwhile, until December 2023, 18 scheduled domestic routes were served by 11 airlines and 29 international routes served by 34 airlines at the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
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Translator: Dewa Ketut S W, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Arie Novarina
