STARLUX Airlines Launches Taipei-Denpasar Direct Flight, Boosting Hopes for Taiwanese Tourism

Indonesia's Ministry of Tourism (Kemenpar) has welcomed the launch of a new direct flight route between Taipei and Denpasar, operated by Taiwan's STARLUX Airlines. The inaugural flight departed Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei at 10:10 a.m. local time on October 1, 2026, arriving at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali at 3:40 p.m. local time (WITA), using an aircraft with a capacity of 188 passengers.

The route operates in both directions—Taipei-Denpasar and Denpasar-Taipei—five times a week, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. This expands STARLUX's network in Indonesia following its earlier Taipei-Jakarta route launched in 2024.

Deputy for Marketing at the Tourism Ministry, Ni Made Ayu Marthini, said air connectivity is a key factor in expanding destination accessibility and strengthening Indonesia's competitiveness in the international tourism market, noting that a direct flight from Taiwan to Bali had long been anticipated. According to ministry data, 130,421 Taiwanese tourists visited Indonesia from January to July 2026, up 7.74% from 121,049 in the same period the previous year.

Arif Sulistiyo, head of the Indonesian Trade and Economic Office (KDEI) in Taipei, said the new direct connectivity could create a multiplier effect benefiting not only the tourism industry but also supporting sectors such as hospitality and local small and medium enterprises (UMKM). He expressed hope that the new route would be a first step toward deeper aviation and tourism cooperation between Indonesia and Taiwan.