{"id":6064,"date":"2026-03-26T00:14:49","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T16:14:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/heybali.info\/news\/?p=6064"},"modified":"2026-03-26T00:14:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T16:14:51","slug":"bali-expands-australian-connections-new-direct-flights-link-the-island-to-avalon-and-sunshine-coast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/heybali.info\/news\/bali-expands-australian-connections-new-direct-flights-link-the-island-to-avalon-and-sunshine-coast\/","title":{"rendered":"Bali Expands Australian Connections: New Direct Flights Link the Island to Avalon and Sunshine Coast"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BADUNG, Bali<\/strong> \u2014 Bali\u2019s gateway to the world has grown by two more routes, with direct flights now connecting the island to Avalon and the Sunshine Coast in Australia\u2014a move that officials say will strengthen tourism ties and expand travel options for visitors from both countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first flight from Sunshine Coast (MCY) touched down at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport<\/a> on Wednesday, carrying 229 passengers. Two days earlier, the Avalon (AVV) route resumed operations, with a Jetstar flight arriving from the Victorian city before departing later that evening with 222 travelers on board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe greatly appreciate the return of the Avalon route and the launch of the Sunshine Coast route, the newest addition to Ngurah Rai Airport,\u201d said Nugroho Jati, the airport\u2019s general manager. \u201cThis is proof that Bali remains a premier destination for international travelers, especially from Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Routes, New Connections<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Avalon route will operate five times a week\u2014on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays\u2014while Sunshine Coast flights are scheduled three times weekly, on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The additions bring the total number of direct air links between Bali and Australia to 11, joining established routes from Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Darwin, Cairns, and Newcastle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Australian travelers, the new connections offer more options for reaching Bali without the need to connect through larger hubs like Melbourne or Sydney. For Indonesian travelers, they provide direct access to two of Australia\u2019s emerging regional destinations\u2014Avalon, located southwest of Melbourne, and the Sunshine Coast, a stretch of beaches and hinterland north of Brisbane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Australia: Bali\u2019s Largest Source Market<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Australia remains Bali\u2019s most important international market. In the first two months of 2026 alone, more than 240,000 Australian visitors arrived on the island. For all of 2025, Australian travelers accounted for 1.6 million arrivals\u2014more than any other country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The strong numbers reflect not only proximity but also a long history of travel between the two destinations, supported by frequent flights and a tourism industry geared toward Australian preferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith the opening of direct routes to Avalon and Sunshine Coast, travelers from Indonesia who wish to visit Australia now have even more options, and the same applies in reverse,\u201d Nugroho said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Strategic Move for Tourism Recovery<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The expansion of Australian routes comes at a moment when Bali is working to solidify its tourism recovery. While the island\u2019s visitor numbers have rebounded strongly since the pandemic, maintaining growth requires sustained connectivity\u2014and Australia is central to that equation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new routes also reflect a broader trend: Bali is not only deepening ties with its largest source market but also reaching into secondary cities and regional hubs that can feed a steady stream of visitors outside peak seasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the Sunshine Coast, the connection to Bali represents its first direct international link in several years\u2014a milestone for a region that has long sought to expand its aviation network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What This Means for Travelers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For travelers planning trips between Bali and Australia, the new routes offer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n