Airasia Indonesia Serves Flight Route From Bali To Kolkata

Denpasar (Antara Bali) - AirAsia Indonesia serves flight route from Bali to Kolkata, India, four times a week, which is expected to boost tourist arrivals from the "Bollywood" country to Indonesia.

"The launch of this flight route proves that the Indonesian aviation security is recognized by other countries that are willing to fly direct flights or make a stopover," Agus Santoso, Director General of Air Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation, stated when welcoming the inaugural flight here on Monday.

The new international flight route will increasingly open the access of foreign tourists to Indonesia, especially to Bali, as a tourist destination of the world, which has a cultural similarity with India.

AirAsia Indonesia`s new route from Bali to Kolkata is one of the 11 international routes that were opened by a number of airlines, as well as 49 domestic routes that were opened during this summer vacation.

In the meantime, CEO of AirAsia Indonesia, Dendy Kurniawan, noted that Bali-Kolkata flight route is its fourth international route, after the low-cost airlines opened direct flights from Bali to Tokyo, Bali to Mumbai, and Jakarta to Macau.

With this new service, passengers from Kolkata can reach Bali within seven and half hours, including a stopover in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

"The advantages (of the flight route) make this service the fastest option to get to Bali from Kolkata," he disclosed.

Meanwhile, an Airbus A-320 series of 200, with flight number QZ-511, received water spray or water salute shortly after touching the runway of the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.

Hundreds of passengers from Kolkata via Kuala Lumpur were then greeted with traditional gamelan and Balinese dancers handing over flower bouquets and handful of souvenirs, just after setting foot on Bali.

The flights from Bali to Kolkata via Kuala Lumpur will be served by QZ-510 every Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, taking off at 08:20 p.m. local time.

From Kolkata, the planes depart every Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 02:25 p.m. local time. (WDY)