TransNusa Airline Launches Daily Direct Bali–Phuket Flights without Transit

RRI.CO.ID, Badung - I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali has officially begun serving a direct flight route between Bali (DPS) and Phuket (HKT) in Thailand, operated by TransNusa airline, starting on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. The new route further strengthens connectivity between the two globally popular tourist destinations.

The inaugural TransNusa flight to Phuket International Airport in Thailand departed from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on Wednesday, September 9, at 11:40 a.m. local time. Flight number 8B541 carried 174 passengers and arrived in Phuket at 2:09 p.m. local time.

The return flight, operating under flight number 8B542, is scheduled to arrive in Bali at 9:35 p.m. Jakarta time. The Bali–Phuket–Bali route will be served daily, with a frequency of seven flights per week.

General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia, Nugroho Jati, said that the opening of the Bali (DPS)–Phuket (HKT) route marks a positive milestone in strengthening air connectivity between Indonesia and Thailand. According to him, both destinations hold equally strategic positions on the global tourism map, with characteristics and attractions capable of drawing visitors from around the world.

“The launch of this direct Bali–Phuket route is good news for strengthening tourism connectivity in Southeast Asia. Bali and Phuket are two world-class tourism destinations with strong appeal for international travelers. With this direct connectivity, we hope travel between the two destinations becomes easier and more comfortable, while also opening opportunities for growth in tourist traffic between Indonesia and Thailand,” said Nugroho at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali on Thursday, September 10, 2026.

The Bali–Phuket route also creates opportunities to develop multi-destination tourism concepts. Travelers can combine visits to Bali and Phuket within a single trip itinerary, offering more choices for foreign tourists as well as travelers from both countries.

“We see this route as having the potential to strengthen the position of I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport as Indonesia’s tourism hub. The easier the access between destinations, the greater the opportunity for tourists to extend their trips and enjoy more experiences. We hope the Bali–Phuket connectivity can develop sustainably and deliver a multiplier effect for the local economy in Indonesia, particularly on the island of Bali,” added Nugroho Jati.

With this flight now in operation, TransNusa becomes the second airline to offer direct flights to Phuket from Bali, following Indonesia AirAsia, which previously launched the route with a schedule of two flights per day.

Currently, I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali is connected to 42 international routes across 16 countries, operated by 44 airlines. “We congratulate TransNusa and all related parties on the operation of this new route. The management of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport remains committed to providing wholehearted service to all airport users. We also hope this addition of a new route will meet users’ expectations for a wider range of destinations connected to Bali,” concluded Nugroho. (Annaila Azzahra-EN)