Bali Helicopter Tour Operator Fly Bali Responds to Influencer's Complaint of Rude Staff

Bali-based helicopter tour and charter company Fly Bali has issued a public apology via its official social media account (@flybali_) after Indonesian influencer Ria Ricis posted that she canceled her flight due to what she described as rude staff behavior.

According to Fly Bali, on the day in question the company faced a high volume of flight requests but had only one pilot on duty, requiring staff to explain the delay as well as the timing for photo sessions and safety briefings to guests. The company suspects the explanation was communicated poorly, leading Ricis and her group to feel uncomfortable and cancel their flight before leaving the heliport.

Fly Bali said it attempted to apologize through Ricis's manager shortly after she left, but received no response. The following day, they learned she had flown with another helicopter service provider. About 40 minutes after offering a complimentary flight, the company was informed she had already flown elsewhere.

The company firmly denied having any policy or intention to treat local and foreign tourists differently, noting that 80% of its crew are Indonesian nationals. However, it apologized for any impression of differential treatment and pledged to strengthen staff training going forward.

The incident, sparked by a prominent influencer's social media post, has drawn attention to service standards in Bali's tourism activity sector, offering a relevant reference point for visitors booking similar tours.