On 9th August 2019, Indonesian airline Citilink officially began operating a new direct flight between Banyuwangi in East Java and Denpasar in Bali.
This is the first time the two popular locations have been connected by air travel; links between them were previously only possible through a combination of time-consuming road and ferry crossings.
Bali is without question Indonesia’s most popular holiday destination, offering a rare combination of beautiful beaches, exotic culture and luxurious hospitality. Just across the water from the island’s northwestern tip, Banyuwangi and the famous Mount Ijen volcano in East Java are also popular destinations, though until recently, tantalizingly beyond the reach of travellers with limited time.
The new flights from Citilink, which will take just 40 minutes, will make it possible for visitors in Bali to transfer more quickly to Banyuwangi and vice versa. This new and improved access is also expected to benefit the tourism revenue available to both locations.
“Both East Java and Bali boast commendable economic growth,†said Citilink Indonesia president director Juliandra in a recent statement published in the Jakarta Post. “We hope the new route will help accelerate growth in these two regions,†he continued.
The new Citilink flights will depart from Banyuwangi at 8 am and arrive in Denpasar, Bali at 9:40 am local time. From Denpasar, the flight takes off at 10:05 am local time and arrives in Banyuwangi at 9:55 am. The new route will be serviced by Airbus A320 aircraft, which can accommodate up to 180 passengers.
Founded in 2009 and based in East Java, Citilink is a low-cost subsidiary of national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia. The company’s mission is ‘to improve the quality of people’s lives by providing hassle-free, reliable and safe air transportation with a touch of Indonesian hospitality.’ Citilink is now the only airline to offer flights between Banyuwangi and Bali.
