Bali Flights Impacted By Middle East Conflict As Tourists Issued Important Travel Advice

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Tourists traveling to and from Bali in the coming days are being urged to keep a close eye on updates from airlines and I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.

As a result of the US and Israel conflict in Iran, hundreds of thousands of tourists, international residents, and business travelers have been affected by the closure of international airspace. 

Bali Airport is on a mission to become a major international aviation transit hub. Bali Airport is also in high demand for connecting flights from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha for long-haul travelers.

With air strikes being recorded across the Middle East, major airlines have canceled hundreds of flights in and out of the region. Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways have all canceled flights to Bali, and more travel disruption is expected in the coming days. 

Speaking to reporters on Monday, 2nd March, Gede Eka Sandi Asmadi, the Head of Communication and Legal Division at PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia (API), I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, confirmed that as of Monday afternoon local time, a total of 15 international flights had been canceled, as a result of airspace closures in several countries.

These include eight departures and seven arrivals. The fifteen flight cancellations were all from Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways traveling to and from Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi. Typically, these three airlines, across these three airports, have more than 90,000 passengers transiting through these hubs. 

Asmadi explained, “However, we can convey that flight operations and airport services at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali, are generally continuing to operate normally and optimally.”

He confirmed that as the manager of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, he and his team will continue to monitor the airspace situation in the Middle East region, while coordinating with all relevant agencies, especially with airlines, to continue updating flight schedules.

This includes handling affected passengers already at the airport, as well as working with AirNav Indonesia to monitor the affected airspace and to support security personnel across the airport.

Asmadi added, “Based on airline data, the number of passengers on flights with schedule adjustments was 3,197. This data represents the number of departing passengers. All passengers were handled in accordance with each airline’s policies.” As a technical precaution, airport management has prepared parking stands for five aircraft from three airlines affected by flight cancellations. 

He concluded, “We urge prospective airline passengers to continue communicating with airlines for updated flight schedule information.”

”We also provide a help desk service located on the 2nd Floor of the International Departure Terminal, as well as a contact center service that can be accessed by telephone at 172 for information updates.”

While Bali and Indonesia remain safe for tourists and travelers despite the growing conflict, the issue of travel safety is not only about safety on the ground, but also about the way in which international airspace closures could affect travel in the short and mid-term.

Anyone traveling to Indonesia in the coming weeks is advised to check with their government’s travel advice bureau and follow its advice. Tourists must also take out full comprehensive travel insurance and ensure that the policy covers flight delays, rescheduling, and cancellations.

It is important for tourists to understand how to make a claim, especially in the event of an emergency. It is essential to check in with airlines before traveling to the airport and to anticipate queues and delays this week, even if passengers are not traveling with affected airlines.

While Bali Airport will work around the clock to mitigate any knock-on impact to passengers, travel delays always have a wider impact on the space, including in-flight check-in, baggage claim, and immigration.