Indonesia Aviation Surges as Super Air Jet Connects Bandung With Bali Medan Makassar and More in Six-Route Expansion
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In September 2026, Super Air Jet Bandung will operate routes from West Java’s capital to Bali, Medan, Pekanbaru, Makassar, Pontianak, and Balikpapan. The government of Indonesia is improving air connectivity from Husein Sastranegara International Airport, Bandung, with the launch of new direct flights. Previously, most of the flights from Bandung were operated to Kertajati Airport. With the launch of these new flights, both Bandung’s residents and businesses will be connected to other islands of Indonesia. New flights to major cities of Indonesia from Bandung will also improve intercity connectivity, reduce travel time and provide more flight options.
Six routes put Bandung back on Indonesia’s domestic aviation map
The new services represent an important expansion of Bandung air connectivity from Husein Sastranegara Airport.
According to the West Java Provincial Government, Super Air Jet resumed direct connections involving Bandung, Medan and Bali in September. The provincial government said the services were intended to provide faster travel options for tourists, residents, business travellers and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
The September operating programme extends beyond those two markets. Services link Bandung with Medan, Bali, Pekanbaru, Makassar, Pontianak and Balikpapan, with operations being introduced in stages.
| Route from Bandung | September 2026 rollout |
|---|---|
| Medan/Kualanamu | From 18 September programme |
| Bali/Denpasar | From 18 September programme |
| Pekanbaru | From 18 September |
| Makassar | From 19 September |
| Pontianak | From 19 September |
| Balikpapan | From 22 September |
The wider strategy is actually larger. In July, the West Java government said Super Air Jet was preparing eight direct routes from Husein Sastranegara, naming Medan, Pekanbaru, Padang, Batam, Pontianak, Balikpapan, Makassar and Denpasar.
That distinction matters. Six destinations form the immediate September expansion, while the earlier government announcement described an eight-destination plan.
First Medan service shows immediate passenger interest
The tourism impact became clearer when the first Medan-Bandung operation arrived on 18 September.
The West Java Tourism and Culture Office reported that the flight carried 170 passengers. Of these, 140 passengers disembarked in Bandung, while the remaining passengers continued towards Bali.
That creates a useful connection between Sumatra, West Java and Bali.
For Bandung, direct aviation access matters because travellers can reach the city without first routing through airports farther from the urban centre. That can simplify trips for tourists as well as people travelling for education, work, family visits and business.
The West Java government has specifically linked the routes with tourism, economic activity and investment. It said the destinations were selected because of their roles as economic centres, tourism destinations, education hubs and transport nodes.
West Java already has one of Indonesia’s largest domestic visitor markets
The route expansion is arriving at a significant moment for Indonesia domestic tourism.
Statistics released by Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism show that West Java recorded 18,859,209 domestic tourist trips in July 2026. That represented growth of 6.15% year on year.
West Java was also the largest destination province in the ministry’s July top-10 table, ahead of East Java and Central Java.
Nationally, Statistics Indonesia recorded 107.44 million domestic tourist trips in July 2026, an increase of 7.23% compared with July 2025. International arrivals reached 1.53 million, up 2.95% year on year.
Those figures provide important context for the Bandung expansion. The airline is adding connectivity into a province that already handles enormous domestic travel volumes.
Bali connection joins two very different tourism markets
The Bandung-Bali link has particular tourism significance.
Bali remains Indonesia’s leading international gateway, while West Java has a vast domestic visitor economy. Connecting them directly gives travellers another way to combine two contrasting destinations within one Indonesian itinerary.
Bali received 697,809 direct international visitor arrivals in July 2026, according to Statistics Indonesia’s Bali office. That was 15.34% higher than June’s 605,013 arrivals.
Star-rated hotels in Bali recorded an occupancy rate of 67.29% during July.
West Java, meanwhile, recorded nearly 18.86 million domestic tourist trips during the same month. The two markets therefore represent different but substantial parts of Indonesia’s visitor economy.
For travellers, a direct Bandung-Bali connection can make multi-destination trips easier without requiring an additional surface journey to another Jakarta-region airport.
Makassar Medan and Balikpapan widen the tourism opportunity
The network also creates connections far beyond Bali.
Medan provides access to North Sumatra and serves as a major gateway for travellers heading towards attractions including the wider Lake Toba region. Makassar is one of eastern Indonesia’s principal transport centres and an important gateway to South Sulawesi.
Balikpapan strengthens Bandung’s connection with East Kalimantan, while Pontianak provides direct access to West Kalimantan. Pekanbaru adds another major Sumatra market.
The result is a network that links Bandung with Sumatra, Bali, Sulawesi and Kalimantan rather than concentrating connectivity on Java alone.
That geographic spread is particularly relevant to Indonesia because domestic tourism operates across an archipelago where aviation can sharply reduce journey times between islands.
Indonesia’s tourism sector is growing in 2026
The expansion also comes against a stronger national tourism backdrop.
Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism reported 8.98 million international visitor arrivals between January and July 2026, representing growth of 5.23% compared with the corresponding period of 2025.
The government is targeting 16 million to 17.6 million international arrivals in 2026 while focusing on tourism that is safe, sustainable and economically beneficial to communities.
Domestic tourism is equally important.
The ministry’s national tourism information system lists more than 1.09 billion domestic tourist trips for 2025 and about 25.01 million tourism workers, demonstrating the scale of the sector within Indonesia’s economy.
What the new connectivity means for tourism businesses
More direct flights can change how tourism businesses package Bandung.
Hotels and accommodation providers gain access to travellers from several major regional markets. Tour operators can build itineraries connecting Bandung with Bali, Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi without depending entirely on Jakarta connections.
Local restaurants, attractions, transport companies and small businesses may also gain from additional passenger flows.
The West Java government explicitly identified MSMEs among the groups expected to benefit from improved connectivity. This is important in Bandung, where tourism demand extends beyond hotels into food, shopping, creative industries and local experiences.
The aviation development should nevertheless be measured through actual passenger traffic over time. Route announcements alone do not establish their eventual economic impact.
Husein Sastranegara regains a larger passenger role
The story is also about the airport itself.
Husein Sastranegara Airport is close to central Bandung, giving it a different role from Kertajati International Airport in Majalengka. The return of more commercial services increases the number of aviation options available to travellers serving the Bandung market.
West Java’s July announcement framed the Super Air Jet network as part of expanding public travel access and connecting Bandung with strategic Indonesian cities.
For passengers, the practical significance is straightforward: more direct routes can reduce the need for connections or long ground transfers when travelling between Bandung and major domestic destinations.
What travellers need to know
Passengers planning journeys should check the airline’s current timetable before travelling because launch dates, frequencies and schedules can change.
Travellers should also confirm whether their flight uses Husein Sastranegara Airport or another airport serving the wider West Java and Jakarta region. Airport codes and departure points are particularly important when arranging hotel transfers or onward transport.
The September rollout connects Bandung directly with destinations across four major island regions, giving leisure and business travellers more options for domestic itineraries.
FAQ
Which destinations are included in Super Air Jet’s September Bandung expansion?
The September programme connects Bandung with Medan, Bali, Pekanbaru, Makassar, Pontianak and Balikpapan. West Java’s government had previously announced a broader eight-destination plan that also included Padang and Batam.
Which airport does Super Air Jet use in Bandung?
The services operate through Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung. Travellers should verify the airport on their ticket before arranging transport because West Java is also served by Kertajati International Airport.
Why does the Bandung-Bali route matter for tourists?
It directly links one of Indonesia’s largest domestic tourism markets with the country’s biggest international leisure gateway. This can simplify two-destination itineraries and reduce the need to travel through another airport before reaching Bandung.
Bandung’s aviation revival meets rising domestic demand
Domestic tourism in Indonesia is growing and Bandung is one of the most visited areas. Currently, flights from the Super Air Jet bandung Flight offers flights from Bandung to several destinations including: Bali, Medan, Pekanbaru, Makassar, Pontianak, and Balikpapan. As of now, these flights are only seasonal. These flights benefit the locals of Husein Sastranegara Airport by creating more travel opportunities, jobs, and tourism. Currently, about 18.86 million travelers visit West Java alone, and these flights offer even more opportunities to meet the demands of the traveling public.
