Strengthen Connectivity At IKN, Garuda Launches Two Routes From Denpasar And Makassar To Balikpapan

JAKARTA - The national airline Garuda Indonesia will launch two new flight routes, namely the Denpasar-Balikpapan pp route and the Makassar-Balikpapan pp route. The operation of these two new routes will begin on November 18.

The two new routes will be served with a fleet of B737-800NG with a capacity of 162 passengers. Denpasar-Balikpapan PP flights are available three times a week every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Meanwhile, the Makassar-Balikpapan PP route will be served with the same fleet four times a week on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday

President Director of Garuda Indonesia Irfan Setiaputra said that by launching direct flight routes from Denpasar, Bali and Makassar to Balikpapan and vice versa, this is a representation of Garuda Indonesia's commitment as a national airline that is always present to meet the needs of air connectivity.

"Especially for people in East Kalimantan and its surroundings to go to one of the favorite destinations in Indonesia," he said in an official statement, Thursday, November 7.

On the other hand, continued Irfan, in line with the current focus of the Indonesian Government which is developing Balikpapan as one of the superhubs of the Capital City of the Archipelago (IKN), it is hoped that the accessibility to and from Bali and Makassar as one of the international flight hubs in Indonesia will be able to play a role as the driving wheel of the upcoming IKN economy.

"Both in terms of convenience for people who target business travelers to encourage the development of superior commodity potential in East Kalimantan and its surroundings through cargo transportation," explained Irfan.

Furthermore, Irfan said the flight would depart from Denpasar, Bali via I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on a GA-481 flight at 12.05 LT and arrived in Balikpapan at 13.45 LT.

On the other hand, the GA-480 flight from Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport is scheduled to depart at 14.30 LT and arrive in Denpasar at 16.10 LT.

The flight from Makassar with a scheduled departure of GA-466 from Hasanuddin International Airport at 09.00 LT and arrived in Balikpapan at 10.15 LT.

Meanwhile, the GA-467 flight to Makassar will depart from Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport at 11.00 LT and arrive at 12.15 LT.

"We hope that the presence of the two new routes that are directly connected to Balikpapan can optimize efforts to strengthen regional infrastructure that can realize national interconnectivity for equitable distribution and economic progress in Indonesia," concluded Irfan.