BADUNG – The escalation of conflict in the Middle East, which has led to airspace closures in several countries including Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Iran, has impacted international flight schedules, including routes to and from Bali.
As of March 1, 2026, at 01:00 WITA, monitoring reports indicate that at least five outbound international flights from Bali have been affected: Etihad Airways (EY477), Qatar Airways (QR963), Emirates (EK369), Qatar Airways (QR961), and Emirates (EK399). The disruption may alter passenger flows at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport due to cancellations or rerouted flights.
In response to the situation, Ngurah Rai Immigration Office has activated heightened alert measures to ensure immigration services remain smooth and conducive.
The precautionary measures include deploying additional officers at international arrival and departure areas to anticipate potential surges in passenger queues. The office is also maintaining close coordination with Angkasa Pura I, airport authorities, international airlines, and related agencies to address schedule changes and flight rerouting.
Real-time monitoring of flight movements is being conducted through official airline applications and global flight data systems. Updated standard operating procedures (SOPs) and contingency plans have also been activated to manage affected passengers effectively.
“We continue to closely monitor these global developments. Our top priority is to ensure that despite flight schedule disruptions, immigration administrative processes for passengers remain well-served and in accordance with procedures,” said Bugie Kurniawan, Head of the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office.
Anticipating Potential Overstay Cases
Ngurah Rai Immigration is also anticipating possible overstay situations involving foreign nationals whose flights are canceled or delayed, preventing them from departing Indonesia as scheduled.
Passengers whose stay permits are close to expiration or have expired due to emergency flight disruptions are advised to immediately report to the Immigration Office or the Immigration Service Counter at the airport for further guidance. Handling will be carried out in accordance with prevailing laws and regulations, while considering force majeure conditions resulting from international flight disruptions.
Immigration authorities emphasized that each case will be handled professionally and proportionately, upholding the principles of legal certainty and public service.
“We urge all international travelers, particularly those transiting through the Middle East, to regularly check their flight status via official airline applications and coordinate with their respective airlines before heading to the airport,” Bugie concluded.***
