Air Asia X eyes offshore Bali hub for Australia
News that budget long haul operator Air Asia X plans to set up a hub in Bali signals significant change is coming to airline operations, not just in Indonesia but in the wider region.
A Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) analysis of Air Asia’s Bali strategy "has profound implications for Australia’s carriers", according to aviation commentator, Ben Sandilands.
He believes AirAsia, the group, is doing what Jetstar was clearly intending to do for Qantas, by setting up offshore ventures to fly to and from Australia from a lower cost base, "rather than serve the market by flying from a higher cost base in Australia and then coming back".
Sandilands added: "If AirAsia X and AirAsia successfully grow Bali into a longer and shorter haul hub, with high linkages to Australian cities, Qantas/Jetstar and Virgin Australia will be forced to advance or retreat.
"Standing still will not be an option."
Still in Indonesia, the state-owned energy company Pertamina has said it will only supply jet fuel to debt-laden PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines if it pays in cash, throwing into question the airline’s ability to remain operational.
Merpati has total debt of US$492.2 million, owed to Pertamina as well as other companies, including airport operators, local media reported late last year.
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
WTTC global tourism reached record economic impact of 11 trillion in 2025
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments
Overseas travelers to the United States declined by 2.5% in 2025