Australians can look forward to new non-stop flights to an Indonesian island – and it’s not holiday hotspot Bali.
Full-service airline TransNusa says it plans to launch a route between Darwin and Lombok in early 2026.
The new flights would mark the only direct passenger service between Australia and the popular destination, located in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province.
The only other time Australia was directly linked with NTB was during the short-lived Indonesia AirAsia Perth-Lombok service, which ran from 2019 to 2020. “We are focusing on international flights that bring in tourists from various countries,” TransNusa President Bayu Sutanto said.
“So, for Lombok, the first route we will open is Lombok-Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. It will be around the end of February or early March.”
According to local media, the airline will fly a 95-seater Comac C909 aircraft on the Darwin-Lombok route, which will initially operate four times per week, with the potential to increase frequency to match demand.
Bayu said the new route responds to strong foreign arrivals via Denpasar (Bali) and Jakarta, positioning Lombok as a nearby alternative to Bali with room to grow. Darwin’s relatively close proximity to the island also makes it an attractive proposition.
“With Bali already crowded and congested, these tourists aren’t just stopping in Bali. So we also want to explore, as Lombok is the closest,” he explained.
Additionally, the TransNusa boss said the carrier also intends to launch a Perth service later this year as it grows its fleet.
“Then, in line with our fleet expansion, we will also fly from Lombok to Perth. Yes, that’s for the short term this year,” he remarked.
“The current target is still Australia. Because Australia is a nearby country.”
Darwin Airport would not comment on the service. Karryon has also reached out to TransNusa.
The West Nusa Tenggara Provincial Government, meanwhile, has backed the plan as it looks to boost international connectivity – and with it, a potential tourism windfall.
In 2025, NTB Governor Lalu Muhamad Iqba announced the province was targeting five new air routes to Lombok International Airport (BIL) after meeting with the heads of several major airlines, including AirAsia and Lion Group. Among these were Australian services, detikBali reported.
Bali boost
Elsewhere, TransNusa has confirmed it will grow its Perth-Denpasar service with four new weekly flights commencing 1 July 2026.
The new flights – to operate on Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday – depart Perth at 4.55am and land in Bali at 8.45am, giving passengers a full day on arrival.
With the increase, the Indonesian airline will operate a whopping 21 flights per week between the Western Australian capital and Bali.
KARRYON UNPACKS: Lombok looks set to land on Australia’s nonstop map, giving travel advisors a fresh Bali-adjacent sell via Darwin, while signalling Indonesia’s broader push to spread demand beyond overcrowded Denpasar for travellers.
