The Tourism Authority of Thailand celebrated the inaugural Bali-Phuket flight by AirAsia with a ceremony at Phuket International Airport. This new route will operate three times a week, indicative of the robust travel demand from Indonesia.
AirAsia’s Inaugural Flight Welcomed in Phuket
Phuket, 13 August 2024 – On 10 August, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) held a ceremony at Phuket International Airport to welcome AirAsia’s first flight from Denpasar (Bali). Flight QZ 246 received a water cannon salute and passengers were greeted by officials from TAT, Phuket International Airport, and Phuket Tourist Association. Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor, expressed delight in the new direct route, highlighting the strong demand for outbound travel from Indonesia.
New Direct Flight Between Bali and Phuket
AirAsia will now operate the Bali-Phuket route thrice weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays using an Airbus A320 with 180 seats. The inaugural flight had a high load factor of 88.88%, accommodating 160 passengers. Currently, AirAsia operates 38 weekly flights to Bangkok from Jakarta, Medan, and Denpasar, adding to the services by Garuda Indonesia, Thai Airways International, Thai Lion Air, and Batik Air.
Boost in Air Connectivity
The new Bali-Phuket route enhances the 78,836 air-seat capacity between Thailand and Indonesia in 2024, marking an 81% recovery from pre-pandemic levels in 2019. From January 1 to August 9, 2024, Thailand welcomed 536,720 Indonesian visitors, with expectations set to reach 800,000 by year-end, generating a projected 21.46 billion Baht. This resurgence underscores the robust travel relations between the two nations.
Source : TAT welcomes AirAsia’s inaugural flight from Denpasar (Bali) to Phuket
