Qantas adds to Bali flights

JAKARTA (JP): Australian flag carrier Qantas Airways reports record business to Bali with a sharp upturn in demand this year.

Qantas's Sales Manager Indonesia, Ronny Mampouw said that the airline has added another flight from Sydney to Bali, starting Oct. 31, to cater to the demand. The additional flight brings up a total of 14 flights a week from Australia to Bali.

Robby said that he believed that Australians were taking advantage from the rupiah's sharp depreciation, currently worth around Rp 5,000 against the Australian dollar, compared to Rp 2,000 a year ago.

The Australian daily newspaper The Sydney Morning Herald recently reported a boom in travel to Bali, which is set to make Indonesia Australia's top holiday destination after New Zealand, overtaking traditional favorites, Britain and the United States.

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that 324,000 Australians traveled to Indonesia in the first six months of this year. (gis)