BALI, THEIMAGE.ID – I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport has increased Bali–Thailand connectivity with the launch of Thai Lion Air flights to Bangkok (Don Mueang) starting Thursday (April 3). Previously, this route was served by three airlines: Batik Air, Indonesia AirAsia, and Thai AirAsia. In addition to Don Mueang, I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport also serves the Bangkok route via Suvarnabhumi Airport, operated by Thai Airways.
Ahmad Syaugi Shahab, General Manager of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, stated that the opening of the Don Mueang route by Thai Lion Air is a positive move, as it provides passengers with more flight options.
“The Don Mueang route will be fairly competitive, considering it was already served by three airlines. However, seeing the load factor performance in the first two months of this year, which exceeded 70 percent, we are optimistic that the presence of a new airline will further boost the number of international tourist arrivals from Bangkok to Bali, as well as strengthen the good relations between Indonesia and Thailand,” he said.
The inaugural Thai Lion Air flight SL258 from Don Mueang to Bali carried 143 passengers and landed on Thursday (April 3) at 5:20 PM WITA, welcomed with a water salute. The return flight to Don Mueang (SL259) departed at 6:20 PM WITA with 128 passengers on board.
According to the official press release, Thai Lion Air flights between Bali (DPS) and Bangkok (DMK) are currently available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Starting April 10, 2025, the Bali–Bangkok–Bali route will operate daily, with a frequency of seven flights per week.
With the addition of this international route, I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport has opened four new international routes in March alone: Perth, Darwin, Jeddah via Singapore, and Don Mueang. Meanwhile, on the domestic front, new routes to Palangkaraya and Manado have also been added.
“Congratulations to Thai Lion Air. We hope this route will operate smoothly and consistently. We also hope that the opening of this route will provide greater convenience and flexibility for travelers planning their journey to the Island of Bali,” Syaugi concluded.
