The Indonesian Ministry of Transportation has reported a 1.16 percent increase in air travel to Bali during the Christmas and New Year period in 2025, with 82,445 passengers recorded from December 18 to December 29. This marks an increase from the 81,500 passengers seen in the same timeframe the previous year.
The peak transportation season extends from December 18, 2025, to January 5, 2026. According to Lukman F. Laisa, the Director General of Air Transportation, airlines responded to the high demand by adding flights. During this period, 285 flight permits for extra flights were issued for I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, with 267 actually operated.
Notably, the Jakarta-Denpasar route experienced a high passenger load factor of 94 percent, with business class occupancy at 83 percent and economy class at the same impressive rate. This route typically operates between 32 and 45 flights each day during festive times, reflecting usual adjustments made during long holiday periods. The Ministry is working to ensure smooth and safe transport services through ongoing monitoring.
Furthermore, the Ministry recorded 467 daily aircraft movements, a significant 10.14 percent increase compared to last year. Cumulatively, from December 18 to December 28, there were 4,787 flights, a rise of 2.93 percent from the previous year. The average number of passengers during these days reached 768,949, with a cumulative load factor of 74.05 percent.
Despite a reported decline in tourist visits to Bali due to various factors, including weather conditions and environmental issues, the Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana indicated that Bali remains a popular destination. She acknowledged a slight 2 percent decrease in domestic tourism as of December 26 but highlighted that domestic travelers are increasingly visiting other regions such as East Java, Central Java, West Java, and Yogyakarta.
This season’s air travel figures reflect the resilience of Bali as a tourist hotspot, showing that while challenges exist, the island’s allure continues to attract visitors, ensuring that the local economy remains buoyant.