Garuda Indonesia reopens Bali–Papua flight route

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia is set to reactivate its direct Bali–Papua service from October 25, 2026, through March 2027, in response to surging travel demand ahead of the peak tourist season.

Garuda Indonesia Sorong Branch General Manager Nadia Anisa stated in Sorong, Southwest Papua, on Thursday, October 8, 2026, that the route was previously suspended in April 2026 due to seasonal drops in passenger volume.

“Tourist seasonality had declined, so there’s no demand. Now that the peak tourist season has begun, we are reactivating the route,” Anisa said during a press conference at the Domine Eduard Osok (DEO) Airport Office in Sorong.

Under the revised flight schedule, the service departs Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport at 8:00 a.m. Central Indonesian Time (WITA) and arrives in Sorong at approximately 12:00 p.m. WITA. The return flight is scheduled to depart Sorong for Denpasar at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Indonesian Time (WIT).

Anisa noted that the route’s operation through March 2027 will be continuously reviewed and adjusted based on market demand.

Alongside the Denpasar–Sorong reactivation, Garuda Indonesia is also increasing flight frequencies on its Jakarta–Sorong route on Saturdays through March 2027.

“For the Jakarta–Sorong route, regular flights will continue to operate at 00:10 a.m. Western Indonesian Time (WIB), while an additional flight will depart Jakarta at 8:55 a.m. WIB,” Anisa explained.

She expressed hope that the increased frequency and route reactivation will broaden travel options for the public while strengthening air connectivity to Sorong as a key gateway to Raja Ampat.

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