The world's largest commercial aircraft is set to double its flight services to Bali. The Airbus A380, a double-decker aircraft, began its Dubai – Bali route with Emirates on January 1, 2023.
With a surge in demand for travel to Bali, Emirates is increasing its services. Starting from September 1 to October 26, the Emirates EK398/399 service will operate twice daily between Bali and Dubai.
This increase in frequency is in response to the rising demand. If successful during this period, the double daily service could permanently add to the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport flight schedule. The new schedule will increase the weekly seating capacity by 2,600 passengers. Emirates first launched a direct daily service from Dubai to Bali in 2015 using a smaller aircraft. This upgrade adds to Emirates' long-standing scheduled flights to Jakarta, which began in 1992.
As one of the leading airlines globally, Emirates operates flights to over 144 destinations across six continents and provides twice-daily flights to Jakarta and Bali from Dubai. Over 100,000 passengers traveled between Bali and Dubai in the first 100 days of the Emirates EK398/399 route.
In a press interview in September 2023, marking 100 successful days of service, Handy Heryudhitiawan, the General Manager of Bali Airport, mentioned that the Airbus A380 on the Dubai-Bali-Dubai route has served 118,783 passengers since its launch.
The service has been in high demand, operating at 98% capacity throughout its first 100 days and maintaining this trend over the past year.
As Emirates plans to introduce more flights to Denpasar, other major international airlines are also expanding their schedules. In October, travel will become even more convenient for tourists, connecting with key East Asian destinations.
A new direct flight service will start between Incheon and Denpasar, operating seven times a week and carrying 180 passengers per flight.
Handy Heryudhitiawan also confirmed that six major international airlines are bidding for new and increased flight slots from Bali Airport.
The Indonesian Immigration Department on foreigners violating visa conditions
As Bali anticipates a record year for international tourism, immigration officials enforce strict regulations to ensure compliance with Islamic law and cultural norms.
Pramella Yunidar Pasaribu, the Head of the Bali Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, noted that the rise in foreign arrivals signals a positive recovery for Bali's tourism sector post-pandemic. However, she stressed the importance of maintaining strict immigration control to preserve security and order in Bali. This includes paying the new tourism tax levy that Bali has implemented.
Pasaribu urged all foreigners visiting Bali to adhere to local laws and regulations and encouraged public participation in maintaining security and order. She stated that increased supervision of foreigners' presence and activities is necessary to ensure the safety and comfort of both the local community and tourists.
Pasaribu concluded by affirming that despite the crackdown on illegal foreigner behavior, tourists are still welcome in Indonesia, particularly in Bali. She emphasized that the goal is for every tourist to enjoy Bali's natural beauty and culture safely and comfortably.
The top international arrivals in Bali continue to be from Australia, India, and China, followed by visitors from the UK, South Korea, the USA, France, Malaysia, Singapore, and Germany.