TAT and TransNusa Expand Bali–Phuket Air Connectivity

PHUKET, 9 September 2026 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) welcomed the inaugural arrival of TransNusa Airlines flight 8B541 from Bali at Phuket International Airport, establishing a new direct air connection between Bali and Phuket. The service introduces four weekly flights between Indonesia and Thailand and adds approximately 700 seats per week from Bali to Thailand.

The inaugural flight operated with an Airbus A320-200 and arrived at full capacity with 174 passengers. Representatives from TAT, TransNusa Airlines, Airports of Thailand and tourism partners were present at Phuket International Airport for the arrival.

The new route operates every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, with flight 8B541 departing Bali at 11.30 hrs and arriving in Phuket at 14.35 hrs. The return service departs Phuket at 16.40 hrs. The four-weekly schedule provides an additional direct connection between two major island destinations in Southeast Asia.

TAT Governor Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool said 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. The route is also intended to create opportunities to attract Indonesian travellers to Phuket’s beaches, gastronomy, culture, wellness and lifestyle experiences.

The Bali–Phuket launch follows TransNusa Airlines’ inaugural Jakarta–Bangkok service on 6 August 2026. It marks the airline’s second new direct route to Thailand within just over a month, extending its direct connectivity between Indonesia and Thailand beyond the Jakarta–Bangkok market.

Both services are linked to a Memorandum of Understanding signed by TAT and TransNusa Airlines in Jakarta on 4 August 2026. The agreement covers destination marketing, travel product development and enhanced air connectivity, providing a framework for cooperation between the tourism authority and airline as additional direct services are introduced.

Indonesia represents a significant short-haul market for Thailand. From 1 January to 7 September 2026, Thailand recorded 429,778 arrivals from Indonesia, compared with 787,524 arrivals during 2025. TAT has set a target of 890,000 Indonesian arrivals for 2026.

The market profile also provides context for the development of direct connectivity to Phuket. Most Indonesian visitors travel to Thailand for leisure, with 84.70 per cent travelling independently and 52.86 per cent identified as repeat visitors. Bangkok, Songkhla, Chon Buri, Phuket and Krabi are the five leading destinations among Indonesian visitors.

Travel preferences identified by TAT include Thai cuisine, historical attractions, community-based experiences, spa treatments and beach activities. Food and beverages, destination diversity and shopping are also identified as key travel motivators for Indonesian travellers.

For Phuket, the new direct service adds access to a market in which the destination already ranks among the five leading destinations visited by Indonesian travellers. The route therefore connects existing demand between Indonesia and Thailand with a direct scheduled air service, while contributing additional weekly capacity from Bali.

The launch also expands TransNusa Airlines’ Thailand network following its Jakarta–Bangkok operation introduced in August. With the Bali–Phuket service, the airline now has two newly established direct connections to Thailand introduced within a period of just over one month.

The new route forms part of the cooperation between TAT and TransNusa Airlines covering destination marketing, travel product development and air connectivity. The four-weekly Bali–Phuket operation adds approximately 700 seats each week from Bali to Thailand and provides a scheduled direct link between the two destinations.