Enjoying the flight launch are FINNS Global CEO Beau Whittington, Chief Minister Andrew Barr, Canberra Airport CEO Stephen Byron, and Indonesian Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Dr Lintang Paramitasari Parnohadiningrat. Photo: Ian Bushnell.
Riverina travellers frustrated by dwindling air links to Sydney and Melbourne will soon have another way to reach one of Australia’s favourite holiday destinations, with direct flights from Canberra to Bali relaunching this month.
International travel has become increasingly inconvenient for residents of Wagga Wagga, Griffith, Albury and surrounding towns. Qantas has scrapped its Melbourne services from Wagga and Albury, while flights to Sydney have become less frequent and more expensive. Many travellers heading overseas now choose to spend a night in Sydney rather than risk missing a connecting international flight.
That’s why news that Canberra Airport – the closest major airport for much of the Riverina – is expanding its international network is likely to be welcomed across the region.
The capital’s last Bali experience with the Indonesian airline Batik Air lasted only four months after its launch in June 2024.
But on Monday (22 June), Virgin Australia’s inaugural flight from Canberra to Denpasar was hopefully the start of bigger things to come.
Virgin is the first Australian airline to fly to an international destination from the national capital. It will fly three times a week from June to January, with capacity to ramp up to five during the school holidays, adding more than 40,000 seats each year to one of Australia’s favourite holiday destinations.
The airline teamed up with Bali holiday destination FINNS Beach Club, the Indonesian Embassy and Chief Minister Andrew Barr to launch the new service at Canberra Airport on Monday.
To celebrate, Virgin dropped sale fares to $449 return (Economy Lite) until next Friday, 26 June, unless sold out.
Canberra Airport boss Stephen Byron and Virgin Australia chief marketing and customer operations officer Libby Minogue said the new route was a significant milestone for both organisations.
Ms Minogue said there had already been a strong response from travellers, which reinforced the demand for direct international services from Canberra.
“This route not only gives Canberrans and surrounding regional communities a more convenient way to travel overseas, but it will also help drive inbound visitation and economic activity for the ACT by making it easier for international visitors to experience everything Canberra has to offer,” she said.
Mr Byron said Virgin had a solid track record, and 40 per cent of the domestic market in and out of Canberra Airport.
He said flights to Bali were heavily booked and not just one-way.
The airport’s ambitions remained firmly fixed on more international destinations, particularly Singapore and New Zealand, as well as domestic ports such as Perth.
“This will be the first of a confidence builder for our other ambitions, be it the start of services to Auckland, or the reinstatement of services to Singapore or so on,” he said.
Mr Byron said aviation faced challenges, especially the war in the Middle East, which disrupted Qatar Airways’ service. But last week, the Australian Government removed the prohibition on travelling through the Middle East, meaning travel insurance could again be acquired if flying Qatar.
“That’s going to be a game changer to help get that service back in the air,” he said.
Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800s will do the Bali run. Photo: Andrew McLaughlin.
Mr Barr said any international service that meant not having to fly out of other capitals was a good thing.
He said the flights would be popular with Canberrans wanting to escape the winter chill, but he also looked forward to travellers such as diplomats and students arriving in the national capital via the Denpasar hub, which was connected to 20 ports.
“Think of all of the connections through southeast Asia that can hub directly into Canberra, via Denpasar Airport on one of these services,” Mr Barr said.
“It will be cheaper and easier for the students to get here, and so we think that’s an added advantage, together with the diplomatic missions. There are some business class seats at the front of the plane. I’m sure they’ll be in high demand for government travel in the ASEAN nations.”
Mr Barr said a key difference with Virgin was that it had staff and infrastructure on the ground in Canberra to serve its customers.
“I have a very simple mantra that I want it to be cheaper and easier for people to visit Canberra, and Virgin are an absolutely critical partner in that,” he said.
Virgin Australia Canberra-Bali services will use the airline’s Boeing 737-800 aircraft with capacity for 162 passengers, offering Business Class, premium extra legroom Economy X seating and Economy Class options.
Original Article published by Ian Bushnell on Region Canberra.
