30 Oct 2024
Strengthening Bali–South Korea Connectivity
Badung, October 30, 2024 – Bali has once again expanded its air connectivity with South Korea. Following the inaugural Jeju Air service on the Incheon–Bali–Incheon route on Sunday (Oct 27), Air Busan has now become the next South Korean carrier to launch flights to I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport. The airline commenced its first-ever service on Wednesday (Oct 30) with the Busan–Bali–Busan route. Not only is this Air Busan’s debut in Bali, it also marks the airline’s first operation in Indonesia.
Ahmad Syaugi Shahab, General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, highlighted the significance of this milestone.
“We congratulate Air Busan on its inaugural flight to Bali. In a relatively short span of time, I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport has welcomed two direct flight services to and from South Korea, serving Incheon and Busan. This is a strong indication that Bali continues to be an attractive destination for South Korean travelers. We hope this development will further strengthen connectivity between the two countries, particularly in aviation and tourism,” said Syaugi.
On its maiden flight, Air Busan flight BX601, operated with an Airbus A321, landed at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on Wednesday (Oct 30) at 11:45 p.m. WITA carrying 212 passengers. The arrival was celebrated with a ceremonial water salute and a traditional flower-garland welcome for the passengers. The return flight, BX602, was scheduled to depart the same day at 1:05 a.m. WITA for Gimhae International Airport in Busan. The Busan route will operate four times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
Syaugi further emphasized that Air Busan’s decision to enter the Bali market is well timed, as South Korea remains one of the island’s strongest sources of international visitors.
“Based on immigration data, total arrivals of South Korean tourists through I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in 2023 reached 236,030 visitors, placing them seventh among foreign travelers. This year, as of the third quarter, arrivals from South Korea have already climbed to 220,033 visitors, moving up to fifth place, and are close to surpassing last year’s total. With the addition of new routes to South Korea, we are optimistic that arrivals from this market will exceed 2023 figures,” he explained.
This Busan service marks the first-ever direct connection between Bali and Busan. As South Korea’s second-largest city after Seoul, Busan has a population of approximately 3.3 million and is served by Gimhae International Airport. According to official data, Gimhae International Airport—managed by Korea Airports Corporation (KAC), a state-owned enterprise—is one of 14 airports under KAC’s administration and is capable of handling up to 10 million passengers annually.
With Air Busan’s inaugural flight, I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport now serves 40 international routes across 19 countries, operated by 42 airlines.
“As of September 2024, we have served a total of 17.9 million passengers and are on track to reach our target of 23.6 million passengers for the year. With the steady growth in passenger traffic after the pandemic, we believe Indonesia’s aviation industry will continue to experience positive momentum, and Bali will remain a top destination for both domestic and international travelers,” Syaugi added.
PT Harmoni Aviasi Sejahtera, Air Busan’s official representative in Indonesia, also welcomed the new service with great enthusiasm. Agus Mustamin, Head of Representative, stated,
“We are confident that this direct flight will make it easier for South Korean travelers to explore Bali while strengthening the ties between our two countries.
