Batik Air launching twice-daily flights from Perth to Bali from $402 return

AFTER several false starts, Indonesia’s Batik Air will launch a twice-daily service on the highly competitive Perth to Bali route next month, while Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines, the world’s fifth-biggest airline, considers flights to WA.

This week Batik confirmed the service to Perth would start on June 21 in a statement from a public relations manager for the airline’s parent, the Lion Air Group, Andy Saladin.

“Full service Batik Air will open a new Denpasar to Perth flight twice-daily starting June 21,” Mr Saladin said.

Batik operates Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s and flies to 31 domestic destinations as well as Singapore.

The airline, which offers business and economy class, recently received approval to fly to Europe and also passed the stringent IATA Operational Safety Audit on November 17.

The flights depart from Perth at 8.30am and 6.20pm and arrive back at 4.30pm and 12.20am. Both flights are to be operated by 737-900ERs with 172 seats.

Late last year Batik received approval from Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority for the services and it is the second Lion group member to operate to Australian destinations. It joins Malaysian joint-venture Malindo Air, which provides services between Perth and Kuala Lumpur.

Batik’s business-class seats are set at 45 inches apart and the economy seats are at a generous 32 inches. All passengers have free in-flight entertainment and meals.

Standard promotional economy fares online start from $402 return, while a business- class fare starts at $640 return.

Batik joins Garuda Indonesia, Indonesia AirAsia and Jetstar on the Bali route.

Tigerair withdrew from Bali earlier this year after Indonesian authorities revoked its operating certificate over minor technicalities.

Meanwhile, officials from China Eastern Airlines, which is an alliance partner of Qantas, have visited Perth to look at the possibility of starting daily flights from China’s financial centre Shanghai, the company’s base.

Yesterday China Eastern Australia manager Kathy Zhang told The West Australian the airline was “exploring the possibility of direct flight from Shanghai to Perth, which means it has not been decided yet”. But sources at Perth Airport say the likelihood is high that a service will be launched by the end of the year.

A first look at the plan, due to be completed by March 2018 – in time for the first non-stop flights between Perth and London.

Source: Batik Air launching twice-daily flights from Perth to Bali | Perth Now