TransNusa launches inaugural Bali-Phuket flight
TAT welcomes TransNusa flight 8B541 from Bali to Phuket carrying 174 passengers at full capacity, establishing four weekly direct flights.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- TransNusa launches direct Bali-Phuket service on September 9, 2026
- Flight 8B541 operated with an Airbus A320-200 carrying 174 passengers at full capacity
- Operating four weekly flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays
- Adding approximately 700 seats weekly to support Indonesia's 2026 tourism targets
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) welcomed TransNusa Airlines flight 8B541 from Bali on its inaugural arrival at Phuket International Airport on September 9, 2026, establishing a direct connection between two of Southeast Asia's premier island destinations.
The inaugural flight touched down at Phuket International Airport at full capacity with 174 passengers, receiving a warm reception from representatives of TAT, TransNusa Airlines, Airports of Thailand, and local tourism partners.
Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor, stated that the Bali-Phuket service advances TAT's Airline Focus strategy and supports the Thai Government's Ease of Travelling policy by expanding convenient air access within Southeast Asia, creating new opportunities to attract Indonesian travellers to Phuket.
"The Bali-Phuket service advances TAT's Airline Focus strategy and supports the Thai Government's Ease of Travelling policy by expanding convenient air access within Southeast Asia."
Thapanee Kiatphaibool
Operated using an Airbus A320-200 aircraft, the Bali-Phuket route operates four times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, introducing about 700 weekly seats from Bali to Thailand. Flight 8B541 departs Bali at 11.30 hrs and arrives in Phuket at 14.35 hrs, with the return service departing Phuket at 16.40 hrs.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
This launch follows TransNusa Airlines' inaugural Jakarta-Bangkok service on August 6, 2026, marking the airline's second new direct route to Thailand in just over a month. These milestones build on the Memorandum of Understanding signed by TAT and TransNusa Airlines in Jakarta on August 4, 2026, covering destination marketing and air connectivity.
Indonesia remains a high-potential short-haul market for Thailand, recording 429,778 arrivals between January 1 and September 7, 2026, following 787,524 arrivals in 2025, against TAT's 2026 target of 890,000. Most Indonesian visitors travel independently (84.70%) and are repeat visitors (52.86%), with Bangkok, Songkhla, Chon Buri, Phuket, and Krabi as top destinations.
Source: TAT Newsroom
Found something wrong in this article? Report an issue with this article
Comments
Leave a Comment