Melbourne, October 20, 2026: TransNusa marked a significant milestone in its international expansion with the official launch of its maiden flight connecting Bali and Melbourne, introducing a new daily scheduled service between Indonesia and Australia.
The new route comes as TransNusa continues its rapid growth in the Australian market, where it achieved a 20 percent market share in Perth by increasing its scheduled flights from 3 per week in April 2025 to 21 per week by July 2026. The airline’s expansion aims to position Bali as a primary international transit hub for Australian travellers.
Flight schedule and network connectivity
Initially, TransNusa will operate four weekly flights on the Melbourne-Bali route, departing on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. From November 15, 2026, the service will increase to daily flights. Flight 8B 18 departs Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah International Airport at 20:45, arriving at Melbourne Airport at 05:40 the following morning. The return flight, 8B 19, leaves Melbourne at 06:25 and arrives in Bali at 09:40.
The schedule is designed to accommodate both leisure and business travellers, with onward connections from Bali to 11 destinations across Indonesia, including Wakatobi, Manado, Bima, Surabaya, and Lombok. The network also offers connections to regional hubs such as Guangzhou, Singapore, and Phuket.
TransNusa’s expansion strategy
Datuk Bernard Francis, Group Chief Executive Officer of TransNusa, said the launch of the Melbourne-Bali route marks a major step in the airline’s international growth, shifting its focus from point-to-point operations to positioning Bali as a key transit hub. “The launch of the Melbourne-Bali route represents a monumental step forward in TransNusa’s international expansion strategy. It strengthens Bali’s position as a premier gateway between Australia and Asia, while giving travellers a compelling new choice that combines connectivity, value, and a distinctly premium travel experience,” said Datuk Bernard.
TransNusa distinguishes itself from low-cost competitors by offering standard basic seats starting from AUD299, which include baggage allowances and complimentary water and snacks.
Background and recent developments
TransNusa, established in 2005 and restructured under new ownership and international management led by Datuk Bernard Francis in 2019, became the Asia-Pacific region’s first Premium Service Carrier in 2023. The airline operates from Jakarta and Bali, serving international destinations including Singapore, Guangzhou, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Perth, Bangkok, and now Melbourne.
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