Indonesia AirAsia has officially inaugurated a new international route connecting Denpasar to Cairns, Australia. This direct flight aims to enhance connectivity between Indonesia and the Tropical North Queensland region, according to reporting from Tempo.
Veranita Yosephine Sinaga, President Director of Indonesia AirAsia, expressed pride in the airline’s expansion into Cairns as it is the only airline serving flights to Tropical North Queensland.
“We will certainly provide the best quality service for all passengers traveling between Cairns and Bali, and to more than 130 destinations in the AirAsia Group network,” she said in a written statement on Friday (16/8/24.)
Veranita highlighted the strong demand for this new route, noting that Bali remains a popular destination for international travelers and that Cairns offers unique attractions, such as the Great Barrier Reef – one of the seven wonders of the world and world-famous rainforests. The route is expected to attract Australian tourists seeking affordable and authentic experiences in Indonesia and Asia, reports Tempo.
Vedi Kurnia Buana, the Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Sydney, expressed support for the new flight. “We are delighted to see Indonesia AirAsia expanding its connections in Australia by opening flights between Bali and Cairns, two favorite destinations for Australians,” Vedi said.
Michael Healy MP, Queensland Minister for Tourism and Sport, welcomed the new direct route, which he believes will make the northern region more accessible to international tourists and students from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. The route will also provide opportunities for local exporters to ship goods to Southeast Asian markets.
Tempo says that according to the Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data, Australian tourist arrivals in Bali increased significantly from 605,955 in 2022 to 1,324,410 in 2023, making Australia the top source of foreign tourists to Bali. The new Bali to Cairns flight is expected to further boost tourism numbers from Australia to Indonesia.
Source: Tempo
