New Flight Routes Improve Access To Bali For Long-Haul Travelers

AirAsia has just announced new plans that will connect tourists to Kuala Lumpur and Europe, making connections to Bali quicker and easier.

What Was Announced

The low-cost carrier AirAsia has confirmed it is expanding its international connectivity by launching its first codeshare partnership with Pegasus Airlines.

Pegasus Airlines is Turkey’s largest low-cost carrier. The new partnership opens up more travel options for Southeast Asian travelers, including those from Indonesia, to explore various European destinations with more convenient connections via Istanbul.

The reverse is also true; this helps tourists from Europe, and even North America and North Africa, to connect with Southeast Asia’s most popular destinations more affordably than ever.

The partnership will roll out in phases.  In the initial phase, connectivity will knit together five destinations in Europe, including London Stansted, Moscow Vnukovo, Ankara Esenboga, Zurich and Athens.

To further strengthen connectivity between Asia and Europe, AirAsia will increase flight frequency on the Kuala Lumpur-Istanbul (KUL-SAW) route from four to seven times a week starting February 2027.

Route Connectivity & Airline Partnerships

This is great news for tourists traveling long-haul to Bali. AirAsia currently operates 4-6 daily direct flights between Bali and Kuala Lumpur. Across all airlines serving the route, there are 11-15 direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and Bali, giving tourists plenty of options to snap up an affordable low-cost flight and minimize layover time on long journeys.

Here at Regional Travel Monitors we’ve often highlighted the benefits of a multi-stop itinerary in Indonesia, starting or ending in Bali. This improved connectivity to Kuala Lumpur helps this travel style too.

As a travel hub, Kuala Lumpur serves up to 75 flights to destinations around Indonesia every single day, including must-visit cities like Jakarta, incredibly cultural hotspots like Yogyakarta, and adventurous escapes like Lombok.

Speaking to reporters, Güliz Öztürk, the CEO of Pegasus Airlines, shared, “Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen is a natural connecting point between Europe and Asia. That AirAsia’s first‑ever codeshare is with Pegasus Airlines is a source of pride: it reflects the network we have built from Istanbul over two decades, and a hub that continues to grow.”

He added, “Our guests can now reach Kuala Lumpur seamlessly and, from there, AirAsia’s network of more than 140 destinations across Asia‑Pacific, while travelers from Southeast Asia and beyond gain a gateway into Türkiye and Europe. We will build on this together, developing a more integrated travel ecosystem across both networks and opening up more destinations, simpler journeys and affordable fares for our guests.”

Flight Schedules & Connecting Corridors

Tourists traveling through Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport this week, as well as Jakarta’s Soekarno–Hatta International Airport, must check in with their airlines prior to heading to the terminals.

With the impact of the eruption of Anak Krakatau still being felt, tourists are encouraged to ensure that travel plans have not been affected.

On Tuesday 8th September, the General Manager of Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Nugroho Jati, confirmed that flights to Tangerang, Jakarta, and Bandung were operating normally again; travel disruptions could still be announced.

He told reporters that prospective passengers must double-check their flight status and schedule with the airline before departing for the airport. For airport information, passengers can also contact the InJourney Airports Contact Center at 172.

Jati shared, “We urge prospective passengers to always coordinate with the airline to confirm their flight status and schedule before departing for the airport.”

What It Means for Travelers

Expanded flight networks and codeshare routes broaden long-haul connectivity to Bali through regional hubs. Travelers booking connecting itineraries should verify luggage check-through agreements and ensure sufficient transit buffers between connecting flight legs. Prospective passengers departing through I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) should monitor airline booking portals for schedule confirmations and baggage policies.