Announcements of new or resumed routes are streaming across our desks daily, and in that mass of information, it’s easy to lose sight of what they actually mean for the broader aviation industry. The dark days of COVID-19 seem to be quickly slipping from memory, but it is these new routes and services that were so suddenly lost that are bringing the whole ecosystem back to life.
While most of the focus was on airlines and grounded aircraft, in some ways, it was airports that bore the brunt of the pandemic lockdowns. Devoid of passengers and revenue, cavernous buildings sat eerily empty for months and were expected to operate at 100% of capacity as soon as aviation switched back on. That’s why new or resumed services are so eagerly welcomed by airports, with Australia’s Perth Airport (PER) making such an announcement today.
The airport confirmed that Indonesian low-cost carrier Citilink Indonesia would resume its flights between Perth and Bali and launch a new service to Jakarta. The Perth to Bali Denpasar Airport (DPS) route will resume on July 19th and operate daily, with the Citilink flight arriving in Perth at 04:50 and departing at 07:30.
Photo: Airbus
The Citilink Jakarta-Perth service departs on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, arriving in Perth at 00:10 the following day, with the return flight leaving at 01:30 on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. Perth Airport Acting CEO Kate Holsgrove said the services would bring more competition and more choices for travelers and that our nearest neighbor Indonesia is one of the most popular destinations for West Australians.
“It’s great that Citilink is returning, especially given that these services will bring almost 190,000 additional seats to the market, which is fantastic news for those travelling for leisure, business or education. As a significant trading partner with a population of 273 million, these new services to Indonesia only bring further business and trade opportunities.”
The standout figure in those comments is that 190,000 seats will become available, which opens up really significant tourism and travel opportunities at both ends of the flights. Bali is like a holiday home for many Australians who flock there at all times of the year, just as Perth draws Indonesians in for holidays, education, business activities, and to visit family and friends.
Australia is ranked fourth in terms of the number of visitors to Indonesia and had the highest growth in visitor numbers in 2022 compared to 2021. This is how airports come back to life and why new routes are such a critical economic driver.
Photo: Airbus
The flights will be operated with an Airbus A320, although the announcement does not specify if it will be the A320-200 or the A320neo. According to ch-aviation.com, Citilink has 39 Airbus A320-200s, 10 A320-200neos, and eight ATR72-600 turboprops.
It is a young fleet with an average age of 7.8 years, bookended by the A320neos at an average of 5.3 years and the A320-200s at 9.4 years. The fleet data also lists another 25 A320neos and one ATR72-600 on order.
Have you been on a Citilink flight recently? Please let us know about your experience in the comments.
Source: ch-aviation.com