Batik Air planning four weekly direct Adelaide-Bali flights from October

A cheeky getaway to Bali from Adelaide will be more accessible if a new carrier’s plans to run four direct flights a week from October get off the ground.

Direct Adelaide to Bali flights are set to commence from October 29 under ambitious plans by carrier Batik Air.

The Malaysian-based airline plans to have four flights a week between Adelaide and Bali subject to approval by Indonesian authorities.

“We are just waiting for Indonesia to approve the slots,” Batik’s group strategy director Datuk Chandran Rama Muthy told The Advertiser.

“We think the Bali service will be very popular.”

The carrier recently commenced direct Adelaide-Kuala Lumpur flights three times a week and has deemed it a success, with hopes to expand the service.

Batik Air is planning to run four direct Adelaide-Bali flights a week from late October. Source: Batik Air

Mr Muthy told The Advertiser up to 40 per cent of its passengers to Adelaide come from India and there were large numbers of Vietnamese people using the connection.

These travellers include tourists, people visiting family and friends, students and business people.

Mr Muthy said the flights had opened up new tourism possibilities for South Australians.

“We certainly want our flights full going in both directions,” he said.

“For South Australians this is a very convenient direct service to Malaysia, and there are very good connections to other destinations in Asia and onwards.”

Datuk Chandran of Batik Air and Dermot O’Neill from Adelaide Airport. Picture: Brad Crouch

Adelaide Airport executive Dermot O’Neill warmly welcomed the announcement at a gala function at the Adelaide Hilton to formally launch Batik’s Adelaide flights.

“Batik Air service to Adelaide comes amid clear evidence of South Australians wanting to head overseas,” he said, noting July’s international passenger movements at the airport were back to 82 per cent, compared to pre-Covid’s July 2019 figure.

Bali has re-emerged as a popular tourist destination for Australians post Covid.

The function to celebrate Batik’s flights to Adelaide was filled with travel industry people including prominent travel agents and tour operators, such as Dennis Bunnik from Bunnik Tours, who welcomed the new service.

Batik Air (formerly Malindo Air) operates three services a week from Kuala Lumpur to Adelaide on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, returning from Adelaide to Kuala Lumpur on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Batik Air has rebranded from Malindo Air.

Adelaide Airport managing director Brenton Cox said Malaysia was a strong long-term market for travel to and from Adelaide.

“Batik Air, Malaysia offers connections through Kuala Lumpur across its network for travellers wanting to continue to other destinations throughout South East Asia, China, Japan and India,” he said.

“Batik is a full-service airline so baggage is included in your fare. The airline previously operated a one-stop service via Bali under its previous Malindo Air banner, but this is the first time it has offered a non-stop service to and from Adelaide.”

Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison said: “This is exactly what our tourism economy needs as we continue to recover from the pandemic and focus on bringing international visitors back to our state.”