Led by aviation veteran Datuk Bernard Francis, the airline made history as the first Indonesian airline to be recognised by Changi Airport Group for achieving the highest passenger growth in Southeast Asia.

TransNusa commencing operations at Changi Airport on 20 November 2023. 

“Our regional and domestic network connectivity expansion is based on the needs and demands of our passengers, among other variables,” said Datuk Bernard, adding that TransNusa had developed new routes specifically to meet the changing needs and demands of its passengers,” said the airline CEO. 

CAG Chief Executive Officer Yam Kum Weng presented the award to Datuk Bernard at the award ceremony last week, which was attended by about 90 airlines and aviation partners.

(Source: TransNusa)

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Vio Travel’s Indonesian operations are the first to gain certification, following an independent audit confirming full compliance across the standard’s four core pillars: responsible management, people, nature and climate. Other Vio country offices will follow.

The audit confirms 100% compliance across all audited areas across the company’s Indonesia operations:

• Responsible management – ensuring all management and business practices are legal and responsible;
• People – upholding people’s well-being and human rights;
• Nature – protecting nature and the environment;
• Climate – actively reducing and mitigating climate impacts.

Indonesia is the first destination to achieve certification, with the same standards set to be progressively extended across Vio Travel’s network of 15 destinations. Importantly, this milestone reflects validation rather than transformation, formal recognition of practices already embedded within the business.

The official award ceremony took place in Bali on 30 April 2026, after working with local suppliers on sustainable practices.

Vio Travel’s Sustainability Coordinator, Novita Rosiana Dewi, led the certification process from the ground up, translating the company’s long-held values into the required documented frameworks.

Vio Travel Co-CEO and Co-Founder, Dominik Schaufler, commented: “We act as an extension of our partners’ businesses on the ground. The standards we uphold — and the suppliers we work with — directly shape the experiences their clients have. Our roadmap is clear: to progressively extend this sustainability framework across our network, applying the same rigorous standards that earned certification in Indonesia.”

Vio Travel operates across 15 countries in the Asia-Pacific, serving company partners with travel agents and tour operators globally, managing ground operations, supplier networks, and itinerary delivery in markets where trusted local execution is critical. Its corporate headquarters are in Bangkok, Thailand.

Preferred by Nature is one of the world’s leading sustainability certification bodies. Its Standard for Sustainable Travel Activities V1.1 is a Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Recognised Standard – the global benchmark for credible and transparent sustainability standards in tourism.

(Source: Vio Travel)

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TransNusa Airlines Group Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Bernard Francis, said that the introduction of this new route comes on the back of the airline’s focus on increasing and strengthening connectivity while boosting domestic tourism.

“Lombok is not only rapidly growing as a domestic and international tourist destination, but the island is also the main gateway for tourism in the West Nusa Tenggara region through its Lombok International Airport,” Datuk Francis said, adding that Lombok attracts more than 1.2 million tourists annually.

Lombok is home to the diving haven Gili and Mount Rinjani National Park, one of Indonesia’s most iconic volcanic landscapes. The island offers dramatic trekking routes, cascading waterfalls and panoramic mountain views, attracting adventurers and nature lovers from around the world. Beyond its mountains, Lombok has also built a global reputation as a world-class surfing and diving destination, with pristine beaches, coral reefs, and consistent waves drawing surfers year-round.

TransNusa will initially operate two daily flights, with the first scheduled flight departing Jakarta in the morning and the second in the afternoon.

Ticket sales opened in mid-March, with the inaugural flight scheduled for 17 April 17, 2026.

Flight details

8B5161 will depart Jakarta’s Soekarno–Hatta International Airport at 0500 and arrive at Lombok International Airport at 0800. 
8B5162 will depart from Lombok International Airport at 0830 and arrive at Soekarno–Hatta International Airport in Jakarta at 0930. 

The second scheduled flight 8B5165 will depart Jakarta’s Soekarno–Hatta International Airport at 1500 and arrive at the Lombok International Airport at 1745. The return service, 8B5166, will depart Lombok International Airport at 1815 and arrive at Jakarta’s Soekarno–Hatta International Airport at 1915.

Ticket prices for TransNusa’s scheduled Jakarta-Lombok route start at IDR899,000, CNY390, USD55, MYR225, AUD80, and SGD69. 

Meanwhile, TransNusa’s additional scheduled flight for its Jakarta-Yogyakarta flight, 8B5530, will depart Jakarta’s Soekarno–Hatta International Airport at 1040 and arrive at the Yogyakarta International Airport at 1150. 
Flight 8B5531 will depart Yogyakarta at 1320 and arrive in Jakarta at 1430.

The airline deploys A320s configured with 174 seats on the new routes.

(Source: TransNusa)

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The conference will feature two full days of in-depth discussions on Southeast Asia’s dynamic travel landscape. Curated to reflect the evolving demands of today’s travellers, the programme brings together thought leaders, industry experts, and key decision-makers to explore emerging trends, regional opportunities, and strategic developments across the Leisure, MICE, and Corporate sectors, all within a focused, business-driven environment.

Buyer registration is now open for decision makers with high procurement volume in Indonesia’s outbound travel. Buyers enjoy pre-scheduled meetings with international exhibitors, attend insightful conference sessions, and access exclusive buyers-only networking.

Other shows from ITB

ITB India

1 – 3 September 2026

Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, India

ITB India is an annual B2B travel trade show focusing on the Indian and South Asian travel market in MICE, corporate travel, leisure and travel technology.

ITB Asia

21 – 23 October 2026

Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore

The annual three-day B2B trade show and convention will feature exhibiting companies from around the world, covering MICE, Leisure, and Corporate Travel.

MICE Show Asia

21 – 23 October 2026

Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore

An unmissable event for the meeting industry in APAC, MICE Show Asia is where the incentive travel, meetings and events industries come together to connect and build the future of MICE.

Travel Tech Asia

21 – 23 October 2026

Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore

Travel Tech Asia is where the latest technologies, emerging trends, leading travel brands, and innovative startups converge, creating new possibilities for travel.

The post Travel Meet Asia 2026 appeared first on TTR Weekly.

TransNusa Group Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Bernard Francis, said that the additional daily flight between Soekarno–Hatta International Airport in Jakarta and Singapore Changi Airport will start on 17 April, while the additional flight from Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali to Singapore’s Changi Airport will start on 2 May. Ticket sales for the additional scheduled flights started last week. 

The additional flights are part of TransNusa’s broader strategy to expand regional connectivity and respond to the growing demand for travel between Indonesia and Singapore — two markets with strong economic, cultural, and tourism ties. 

“Singapore is one of the region’s vital aviation and commercial hubs, and these additional flights will provide travellers with greater flexibility while supporting trade and tourism between the two countries,” Datuk Bernard noted. 

“The Jakarta–Singapore corridor is one of the busiest international routes in the region, serving millions of travellers each year. By increasing capacity on this route, we aim to provide a more seamless connection for passengers travelling across Southeast Asia and beyond”. 

Flight schedules

TransNusa’s additional scheduled flight, 8B155, will depart Jakarta at 1945 from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta and arrive at the Singapore Changi Airport at 2225. 

The return flight, 8B156, will depart Singapore Changi Airport at 2320 and arrive at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta at 0010. 

With the launch of this additional service, TransNusa will operate three daily flights from Jakarta to Singapore, effective 17 April. 

On the Bali-Singapore route, TransNusa adds a second daily flight. The new scheduled flight, 8B553, will depart Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport at 1020 and arrive at Changi Airport at 1315. 
The return flight, 8B554, will depart Changi Airport at 1415 and arrive in Bali’s Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport at 1755.

The second daily flight between Bali and Singapore will begin on 2 May.  

The Bali-Singapore route is served by eight airlines, including Singapore Airlines, Scoot, Jetstar, AirAsia Indonesia, and KLM. The average round-trip fare on the route is USD160.

TransNusa deploys an Airbus A320 with 174 seats on both routes. 

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JLL advised PT Putragaya Wahana in securing investment from an affiliate of Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), demonstrating the firm’s unmatched ability to execute complex cross-border hospitality transactions. 

Set to open in 2027 as the capstone of the Autograph Tower within Thamrin Nine, the Waldorf Astoria Jakarta will redefine the city’s luxury hospitality landscape. 

The mixed-use superblock will integrate offices, hotels, serviced residences, and lifestyle amenities into one commanding destination.

The property features distinctive elements: Indonesia’s highest observation deck, a double-tiered ballroom, and panoramic views of Jakarta’s skyline. 

“This transaction demonstrates JLL’s integration of deep-rooted relationships with specialised hospitality expertise to execute complex cross-border investments,” said JLL Indonesia Capital Markets and Senior Director Southeast Asia Capital Markets Jacintha Tabalujan Herzog. “Our engagement with PT Putragaya Wahana, combined with the strength of our global capital markets platform, enabled us to facilitate this investment joint venture that will bring the prestigious Waldorf Astoria to Jakarta. The commitment from a fund of ADFD’s calibre represents a significant milestone for Indonesia’s real estate sector.”

The transaction underscores Indonesia’s strengthening economic partnerships across the UAE and broader GCC region. With robust bilateral relations creating a foundation of trust and collaboration, we anticipate accelerated cross-border investment activity and increasingly significant transactions flowing into Indonesia’s hospitality and broader real estate sectors.

(Source: JLL)

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Indonesia AirAsia deploys an A320 for the daily flight, adding an annual 130,000 seats on the route for Victorian travellers planning their next Bali or Indonesian getaway.

Indonesia AirAsia General Manager Captain Achmad Sadikin Abdurachman said the launch reflects strong demand for Bali and reiterated the airline’s commitment to Australia.

“Bali continues to be the most popular international holiday destination for Australians, and we’re excited to give Victorians another great value option when planning their next escape,” he said.

“This new service supports AirAsia’s goal to make travel more accessible for Australians who wish to experience Bali, while also discovering the many remarkable destinations across the wider Indonesian archipelago.” 

“From Bali, passengers can easily connect to some of Indonesia’s fastest-growing destinations, including Labuan Bajo, the gateway to the iconic Komodo National Park; and Balikpapan, a vibrant culinary and cultural hub in Kalimantan, and to the Capital of Indonesia, Jakarta.”

The Melbourne to Denpasar service marks AirAsia’s third Australian route to Bali, complementing the airline’s existing services from Perth and Adelaide. The airline recently increased frequency out of Adelaide in response to rising demand from Australian travellers.

AirAsia is offering special promotional fares from Melbourne to Bali starting at AUD209 one way. Travellers can also grab a ‘Fly-Thru’ deal with fares starting from AUD289 one way from Melbourne to Singapore (via Bali), Melbourne to Bangkok from AUD316 (via Bali) and AUD316 from Melbourne to Phuket (via Bali).

Fares are bookable via the airasia MOVE app, airasia.com, online travel agents, and authorised travel partners.

(Source: AirAsia)

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The forum will engage with hotel owners, operators, investors, and senior decision-makers from across the archipelago to examine the forces shaping the country’s tourism economy amid renewed growth and increasing complexity.

Taking place on 12 May 2026 at The Langham, Jakarta, the event will reflect Indonesia’s distinctive tourism realities — scale, cultural depth, and extraordinary diversity of destinations — while addressing the evolving demands of travellers, brands, and capital. The programme spans the full spectrum of hospitality, from luxury and lifestyle to performance, investment, technology, sustainability, and emerging development models.

The agenda opens with an assessment of Indonesia’s investment climate and tourism outlook for 2026, providing economic context for the discussions that follow. Attention then turns to luxury hospitality, where expectations are shifting rapidly, and brands are being challenged to move beyond traditional definitions of premium service.    

Langham Hospitality Group, Regional Vice President, Operations Asia, Sherona Shng, will explore how luxury in Indonesia is increasingly shaped by cultural intelligence, personalisation, and emotional connection rather than scale or spectacle alone.

Hotel performance and demand dynamics form a central pillar of the program, with a close examination of how Indonesia’s hotels are trading across resort and urban markets, including upper-upscale and luxury assets. Horwath HTL Director for Pacific Asia, Matt Gebbie, will address Indonesia’s tourism prospects for 2026, focusing on where growth is sustainable and where caution is required.

Beyond hotels, ITX 2026 also examines how ownership structures and development strategies are evolving. A dedicated discussion on standalone branded residences reflects the rising importance of residential-led hospitality across Indonesia’s resort and lifestyle destinations, where brands are increasingly used to drive long-term value. C9 Hotelworks Managing Director Bill Barnett will moderate the session.

Indonesia Tourism Xchange 2026 is organised by Horwath HTL, C9 Hotelworks, STR, QUO Global, Greenview, and Delivering Asia, in partnership with Langham Hospitality Group, and supported by the Jakarta Hotels Association, PHRI Indonesia, and the Bali Hotels Association. Attendance is complimentary, with advance registration required.

As Indonesia’s tourism sector matures and luxury becomes more nuanced and experience-driven, ITX 2026 positions itself as an annual industry forum offering clarity on performance, capital, and brand strategy across one of Asia’s most complex and compelling travel markets.

Registration: Indonesia Tourism Xchange 2026 

(Source: Delivering Asia)

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The new service provides more flexible travel options for Kendari residents and opens onward access (Fly-Thru) to various domestic and international destinations within the AirAsia network.

Indonesia AirAsia Acting President, Captain Achmad Sadikin Abdurachman, stated that strengthening routes from Kendari is part of the airline’s efforts to expand interregional connectivity, particularly in Eastern Indonesia.

“The operation of this route makes it easier for Kendari residents to access more destinations, both domestic and international, through the Fly-Thru service. This connectivity is expected to support public mobility, tourism, and economic activity in Southeast Sulawesi,” he explained.

Through the Fly-Thru scheme via Makassar, passengers from Kendari will be able to continue their journey more conveniently to several cities in Indonesia, such as Surabaya, Palu, and Luwuk, as well as international destinations such as Kuala Lumpur and other AirAsia regional networks, with a single booking process and more efficient connections.

According to data from Indonesia’s Central Statistics Agency (BPS), domestic air passenger traffic in Southeast Sulawesi is on the rise. In November 2025, the number of departing passengers was 58,030, up from 50,820 in November 2024. Meanwhile, the number of arriving passengers reached 106,791, a significant increase from 51,837 in the same period the previous year. This trend reflects the increasing demand for air travel, which is expected to be further strengthened by Indonesia AirAsia’s new connectivity via Makassar.

Kendari is a gateway to prime destinations in Southeast Sulawesi, including Wakatobi’s marine tourism and the region’s rich nature and culture. Palu offers the charm of Palu Bay and the natural attractions of Central Sulawesi, which are steadily developing as domestic tourist destinations. Meanwhile, Makassar serves as a centre of trade and services in Eastern Indonesia and a strategic transit point, with a variety of tourist, culinary, and cultural attractions.

Meanwhile, Surabaya serves as a hub for economic and trade activity on Java Island, boasting a diverse range of urban and historical tourist destinations and a rich culinary heritage from East Java. Palu also offers the charm of Palu Bay and the natural attractions of Central Sulawesi, which are steadily developing as domestic tourist destinations.

(Source: AirAsia Indonesia)

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The move underscores the group’s long-term commitment to developing hospitality on island destinations across the archipelago.

The first property, Māua Kapal Kecil by Swiss-Belhotel, will offer an intimate eco-luxury experience on Batam, featuring villas with private pools and suites, several of which have balconies and direct pool access. 

The second project, located in Nirup Island, Batam, will present a refined villa-style escape designed for families, groups, and long-stay guests. The property will comprise villas with two-, three-, and four-bedroom layouts, each with a private pool.

Swiss-Belhotel Chairman and President Gavin M Faull emphasised the significance of the company’s continued growth in Indonesia. “These new signings reflect our ongoing commitment to expanding Swiss-Belhotel International’s presence in key island destinations. Batam’s rising potential as a luxury getaway aligns perfectly with our vision to deliver world-class hospitality experiences that unite sustainability, comfort, and authentic local charm. We are proud to strengthen further our portfolio in Indonesia, one of our most important and fastest-growing markets.”

The addition of Māua Kapal Kecil and Villa Riahi by Swiss-Belhotel underscores the group’s strategy to enhance Batam’s appeal as a premier luxury island destination and support Indonesia’s tourism growth.

(Source: Swiss-Belhotel)

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