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TransNusa has launched its new service between Melbourne and Denpasar, becoming the sixth carrier on the popular route.
Flight 8B18 touched down 15 minutes ahead of schedule at 5:10am on Tuesday morning, aboard the Airbus A320 PK-TLO. The service will initially operate four times per week on the 174-seat aircraft, increasing to daily from 16 November.
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“Bali remains the number one destination for Australians, but there’s a lot more to Indonesia beyond Bali, with TransNusa’s network connecting passengers with onward destinations including the dive and reef islands of Wakatobi and Manado, Lombok and Komodo Island just to name a few,” said Melbourne Airport chief of aviation Jim Parashos.
“We’re thrilled to welcome TransNusa to Melbourne’s growing international family, with more than 40 carriers giving travellers more choice and affordability than ever.”
Bali has become one of Melbourne’s largest international markets, growing by 35 per cent since 2019, and the new TransNusa service will add around 700,000 annual seats to the route.
TransNusa Group CEO Datuk Bernard Francis said the airline is pleased to make Melbourne its second Australian destination after Perth.
“TransNusa is proud to become part of the Melbourne Airport family to connect these two vibrant cities, offering travellers a reliable, value-driven alternative on one of the region’s most popular travel corridors,” he said.
“We are also excited to be able to extend a Bali and ‘Beyond Bali’ island vacations experience, including the internationally acclaimed destinations such as Phuket (Thailand) and Singapore.”
TransNusa will compete with Batik Air, Garuda Indonesia, Jetstar, Qantas, and Virgin Australia on the route, which AirAsia recently vacated due to high fuel costs. The route is one of Melbourne’s most competitive, with an average of eight daily flights in each direction.
The news comes as Melbourne prepares for major international terminal works, including enlarging and modernising check-in and baggage claim halls; expanding its terminal footprint with improved lounges, waiting areas, and retail; and adding five new gates to the existing pier.
The airport in August released its 2027 Master Plan, which outlines a suite of terminal upgrades, infrastructure improvements, transport links, and a 345-metre eastern extension of the east-west runway to accommodate shortening at the western end for the upcoming third runway.
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