MANGUPURA – Passenger traffic at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport rose sharply in the days leading up to the New Year, underscoring the island’s status as one of Southeast Asia’s busiest holiday destinations.
The airport handled 581,709 passengers between Dec. 24 and Dec. 31, airport authorities said on Tuesday, as travelers flocked to Bali for year-end holidays.
Arrivals accounted for the majority of traffic, with 320,246 passengers arriving, including 185,478 international travelers and 134,768 domestic passengers. Departures totaled 261,463 passengers, made up of 150,299 international and 111,164 domestic travelers.
The busiest day during the Christmas and New Year travel period was Dec. 28, when the airport served 83,318 passengers, around 26% higher than the airport’s 2025 daily average of 66,222 passengers, according to airport data.
Aircraft movements also increased, with 3,515 flights recorded from Dec. 24 to Dec. 31, averaging 439 movements per day. The figure was 12.6% higher than the daily average recorded between January and November 2025.
During the 17-day Christmas and New Year travel period, which ran from Dec. 15 to Dec. 31, the airport handled 1.19 million passengers, or nearly 70,000 travelers per day, officials said.
Airport operator Angkasa Pura Indonesia said the rise in traffic highlighted Bali’s continued appeal to both domestic and international tourists during peak holiday seasons.
“Bali remains a major tourism magnet, especially at year-end,” said Gede Eka Sandi Asmadi, head of communications and legal affairs at Ngurah Rai International Airport. “As the island’s main gateway, we are committed to ensuring safe, reliable operations while delivering a positive travel experience.”
To mark the transition into 2026, the airport also held a small ceremony welcoming the last passenger of 2025 and the first arrival of the New Year, featuring traditional Balinese cultural performances.
With infrastructure and personnel fully deployed, airport authorities said they were confident in managing peak holiday traffic while supporting the recovery and sustainable growth of Indonesia’s tourism industry.***
