RRI.CO.ID, Denpasar - Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport has significantly bolstered its maritime-continent connectivity by launching two flight routes to Australia. This move solidifies the island's status as the premier destination for Australian travelers.

The expansion, operated by Jetstar, includes the revival of the Avalon (AVV) service and the historic debut of the Sunshine Coast (MCY) route. This marks the first time the latter has been directly linked to the "Island of the Gods."

General Manager of I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, Nugroho Jati, highlighted these additions as a pivotal move to enhance international access. Addressing the press in Denpasar on Wednesday, March 26, 2026, he emphasized that these routes are essential for sustaining the momentum of Bali's tourism recovery.

"The presence of this route is a strategic step in strengthening access for international tourists, especially from Australia, to Bali," said Jati, as quoted by Antara.

He noted that the synergy between airport operators and airlines is crucial for the aviation sector’s growth. The operational rollout began on Monday evening, March 23, 2026, when Jetstar flight JQ49 from Avalon arrived in Bali at 8:56 p.m. local time. The aircraft returned to Avalon at 11:03 p.m. local time as flight JQ50, carrying 222 passengers.

Following this successful relaunch, the Avalon route is scheduled to operate five times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Meanwhile, the Sunshine Coast route officially joined the airport’s network on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, with flight JQ86 landing at 1:52 p.m. local time carrying 229 passengers. This new service will run three times a week on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

Australia remains Bali’s most dominant tourism market, with Jati revealing that 240,897 Australians visited in the first two months of 2026 alone. This follows a record-breaking 2025, where 1.6 million Australian tourists topped the island’s arrival charts.

"We greatly appreciate the resumption of operations at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport with the Avalon and Sunshine Coast routes. This demonstrates that Bali remains a leading destination for international tourists, particularly from Australia," added Jati.

With these additions, Bali now boasts direct connections to 11 Australian cities, including Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Darwin, Cairns, and Newcastle. This extensive network not only offers more flexibility for travelers but also serves as a catalyst for regional economic development.

Jati concluded by reaffirming the airport's commitment to expanding both domestic and international flight networks to cement Bali’s reputation as a world-class tourism hub. ***