The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Island of Bali are closer after the launch of Etihad Airways, a regular service connecting Denpasar and Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, 26 June 2024.
EY476 – a Boeing 787-9 flying from Abu Dhabi, landed at Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport, receiving a water cannon salute welcome. The airplane’s cockpit window was opened to allow a breath of Bali’s ocean air and space for the captain to wave two small flags representing the UAE and the Republic of Indonesia at the end of the non-stop 9-hour flight.
The inaugural flight carried 289 passengers to Bali, and EY477 returned to Abu Dhabi, departing at 6:45 p.m. with 250 passengers.
The new service will initially operate four times weekly using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner configured with 28 seats in Business Class and 262 seats in Economy.
Arik De, Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, was among the first Etihad passengers to land in Bali. He said, “I am honored to be welcomed to the island today and proud to bring a full flight on our inaugural journey into Bali.”
Adding: “We are thrilled to add Bali to the growing list of destinations we serve directly from Abu Dhabi. It has become our second destination in Indonesia, adding to the nation’s capital Jakarta. We look forward to connecting our guests from the Middle East and Europe and our global network with the Indonesian tropical island.”
With bookings made on etihad.com, guests flying to Bali via Abu Dhabi can choose to add a free hotel stay with Etihad’s Abu Dhabi Stopover program. Guests can also take advantage of Abu Dhabi’s delights, from beaches and desert landscapes to cultural highlights and world-class dining.
“We believe that adding Bali as a destination by Etihad will further establish the island of Bali as a world-class destination and Bali’s commitment to continue improving services to global aviation. We thank all parties involved for realizing Etihad Airways’ first flight to Bali. As one of the largest airlines in the world, we are confident that the operation of Etihad Airways will open up new market shares, which will have a positive impact on increasing the connectivity of Bali Island with various foreign destinations,” stated the General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura I the managers of Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Handy Heryudhitiawan.
PT Angkasa Pura I is the State-owned management authority for Bali’s Airport.
Handy, continuing, said: “This flight marks a new history where not only is Emirates Airways present as our new partner, but also, for the first time, the island of Bali is connected directly with Abu Dhabi. With a distance of approximately 7,529 km, a direct flight from Abu Dhabi to Bali and vice versa takes approximately nine hours.” I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport is the second airport in Indonesia after Soekarno-Hatta to serve this direct flight route to Abu Dhabi.”
January through May 2024 saw Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport serve 9,183,764 inbound and outbound passengers, an average of 60,000 to 65,000 per day. With the inauguration of service by Etihad, Bali’s Airport now serves 36 international air routes flown by 39 airlines.
To celebrate the inauguration of their Bali flights. Etihad Airways sponsored a lavish celebratory party at the Apurva Kempinski Hotel on 26 June 2024.
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