With the public health situation improving, Singapore Airlines plans to resume passenger flights to Bali, Indonesia starting in November. The moves comes as Indonesia sent its strongest signal yet the entire nation will reopen to foreign travelers later this autumn.
Singapore Airlines To Resume Bali Service In November With 787-10 Dreamliner
Made Ramia Adnyana, from the Bali chapter of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce, boasted to reporters yesterday that Singapore would resume flight starting in November.
Looking at its published schedule, Singapore has put nonstop flights to Bali Denpasar (DPS) for sale from November 2nd, with some days offering up to two flights while Thursday offers no service at all:
Singapore – Bali
- SQ938 – Departs Singapore at 9:05AM, Arrives Bali at 11:50AM
- operates 4x weekly on Sunday, Tuesday, Friday Saturday
- Boeing 787-10
- SQ944 – Departs Singapore at 4:20PM, Arrives Bali at 7:05PM
- operates 3x weekly on Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday
- Boeing 787-10
Bali – Singapore
- SQ939 – Departs Bali at 1:00PM, Arrives Singapore at 3:40PM
- operates 4x weekly on Sunday, Tuesday, Friday Saturday
- Boeing 787-10
- SQ945 – Departs Bali at 8:15PM, Arrives Singapore at 10:55PM
- operates 3x weekly on Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday
- Boeing 787-10
Tickets start about about 250USD round-trip.
Singapore Airlines continues to operate daily serve to Jakarta utilizing an Airbus A350-900.
Adnyana noted that Singapore’s service was contingent upon Bali actually re-opening to international tourism.
On that note, there was promising news this week in that Bali moved from Level 4 to Level 3 under the Enforcement of Restrictions on Public Activities (PPKM). The drop in category will allow more businesses to re-open and lift some capacity restrictions. Minister Luhut Pandjaitan hinted that Bali could reopen once the island reaches Level 2 status.
Could All Of Indonesia Open At Once?
In an interview with Reuters, Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin hinted the whole country could reopen in November.
“So for us we concentrate on the first dose. If we can vaccinate 70% of the target population of 208 million, if we can hit 140-150 million, 70% with the first dose, then we can gradually start reopening. And my calculation is that will be reached by November.”
This marks the first time a senior minister has offered a dateline for reopening Indonesian borders. Nevertheless, it remains just speculation at this point. Asked if the nation would avoid a third wave of the pandemic, Budi simply said:
“It is extremely difficult to predict.”
CONLCUSION
Singapore is selling flights to Bali starting on November 2nd. This is an encouraging sign. Furthermore, the guarded optimism of Health Minister Budi further signifies that the reopening of Indonesia to foreign visitors is drawing closer.
H/T: @TellyWie // image: Paul Schmid
I am looking forward to this so-called plan being cancelled by October, consistent with all of Southeast Asia and Oceania’s plans in the last 12 months.
So many signs developing that the Asia/Pacific wall will slowly start to open this fall. More than anything, Govt’s are starting to realize that with safety mandates (vaccine requirements, masking, and common sense) we can learn to live with Covid.
Fly in on SQ in J, slam a few Bintangs in Kuta, stumble back to the 5K point Alila. Man, that sounds like something from another era, and I’d love to be doing it! I’d be delighted if Indo opened.
Not going to happen. Calling it now.