Good News from Garuda Indonesia, Reopen Tokyo-Denpasar Round Trip Flight Route Starting November 1, 2022

Garuda Indonesia aircraft. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - Garuda Indonesia airline will reopen the Tokyo-Denpasar round-trip (PP) flight route starting November 1, 2022, after being closed for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Starting November 1, we will have direct flights Tokyo-Denpasar round-trip", said General Manager of Garuda Indonesia for Japan and Korea, Sony Sahlan, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, October 11.

Garuda Indonesia will operate these flights through Narita Airport with a frequency of three times a week, including every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday with flight numbers GA875 and GA880.

"Why three times, because that's the pattern of Japanese tourists to Bali like that. If twice a week cannot cover (the cost), especially if a week is too long. So, there is a choice of three, four, or five days of traveling in Bali", he said.

Sony said that the Narita-Denpasar route last operated in 2019 or before the pandemic with flights every day.

During the pandemic, Garuda has operated flights from Tokyo, but indirectly because the route is Manado-Tokyo-Denpasar and from Manado to Tokyo only serves cargo flights.

"The problem is that it's only one way, the fans are fewer. Like it or not, the Japanese returned via Jakarta, Narita-Denpasar-Jakarta-Narita. Now, starting November 1, if the Japanese want to travel to Bali, they can go directly, more effectively", he said.

The re-operation of the route also follows Japan's policy of opening visa-free travel for foreign tourists, including those from Indonesia, on October 11, 2022.

Sony targets the load factor for the Tokyo-Denpasar PP flight for the initial stage of 70 percent.

"Indeed, for the international market, it cannot be impromptu. They planned the flight at least two months in advance", he said.

He said if the trend is good, then his party may increase the frequency of flights as before, namely every day.

Currently, foreign tourists who want to travel to Indonesia are no longer subject to quarantine and PCR tests as long as they have been vaccinated twice and booster vaccines (booster) once.

In addition, travelers also do not need to apply for a visa at the Indonesian Embassy because a visa on arrival (VoA) is available.