TransNusa has made a historic move by becoming the first Indonesian airline to launch scheduled flights from Bali to Guangzhou, China. The inaugural flight, 8B 969, took off from Bali on April 13 at 8:15 PM and landed at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport at 1:00 AM local time on April 14, marking a significant milestone for the airline.
The launch follows closely on the heels of TransNusa’s new Bali-Perth route, which began operations on March 20, underscoring the airline’s continued expansion.
Datuk Bernard Francis, TransNusa’s Group Chief Executive Officer, expressed pride in the achievement, highlighting the airline’s renewed focus on passenger needs since its relaunch as a Premium Service Carrier in 2022. “Our main priority is to create exciting new routes that offer passengers seamless and efficient travel options, whether direct or via connecting flights,” said Datuk Francis.
Details of the New Route
TransNusa is offering promotional fares for the new Bali-Guangzhou route, starting at IDR 2,388,000, CNY 999, or USD 149. Tickets can be purchased via TransNusa’s website (transnusa.co.id) and various global online travel agents.
The airline aims to provide Chinese tourists with more options to visit Bali, often referred to as the “Island of the Gods.” Datuk Francis also noted that the new service will provide convenient connections to other popular destinations in Indonesia, such as Manado, renowned for its world-class diving spots.
Flight Schedule and Aircraft Details
Initially, from April 13 to May 31, TransNusa will operate four weekly flights between Bali and Guangzhou. The outbound flight (8B 969) departs from Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport at 8:15 PM, arriving in Guangzhou at 1:00 AM. The return flight (8B 968) will depart Guangzhou at 2:05 AM and land in Bali at 7:40 AM. Flights will be available on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from Bali, and on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays from Guangzhou.
The airline will operate the route using its A320 narrow-body jet, which offers 174 seats and is capable of handling the approximately five-hour journey.
Future Expansion Plans
Looking ahead, TransNusa plans to increase the frequency of its Bali-Guangzhou flights to daily service starting June 1, further enhancing connectivity between the two destinations.
This historic launch represents TransNusa’s commitment to expanding its international network and offering more travel options to and from Bali.
