Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport Add Balikpapan Route Supports IKN Connectivity

BADUNG - I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali, has added routes to and from Balikpapan using Garuda Indonesia airlines.

The opening of the Denpasar-Balikpapan route by Garuda Indonesia is a good opportunity to build connectivity to East Kalimantan Province as a goal to support the development of the State Capital (IKN), and vice versa as a liaison for tourist destinations on the Island of the Gods.

According to General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia International Airport I Gusti Ngurah Rai, Ahmad Syaugi Shahab said, Balikpapan is the first route flying by Garuda Indonesia from Bali, with a schedule of three times a week every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

This also answers the needs of prospective passengers for the airline's choice to be used, and maximizes connectivity and alternative flight schedules.

"Garuda Indonesia is here to complete the available options for Balikpapan which was previously served by Citilink Indonesia, Air Asia and Lion Air," Syaugi said as quoted on Tuesday, November 19.

Syaugi said, as the airport manager, his party always opens opportunities for airlines to develop potential routes and is ready to support operations at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport. For flight data for the Balikpapan route, with the addition of Garuda Indonesia, in a week there will be a total of 34 flights coming and going.

"We congratulate Garuda Indonesia, hopefully the opening of this route will further strengthen domestic connectivity from the island of Bali," he added.

The inaugural flight takes place on Monday (18/11) with a scheduled departure at 12.05 WITA and a arrival schedule at 16.10 WITA.

On the inaugural flight, there were 138 passengers departing using flight number GA 481.

While on arrival flights, the Boeing 737-800NG aircraft was greeted with water salute and carried 153 passengers from Balikpapan with flight number GA 480.

Based on the number of airlines until October 2024, there are a total of 62 airlines operating with 12 airlines serving domestic routes and 42 airlines serving international routes.

"Meanwhile, the total route is 62, as many as 22 domestic routes and 40 international routes. The airport management targets 23.6 million passengers by the end of 2024," he said.