Surabaya : four new routes by Indonesia AirAsia

Indonesia AirAsia will launch a series of new routes from Surabaya in October. It will help establishing the East Java capital as a gateway for the low cost carrier.

The AirAsia Indonesian affiliate will introduce a new international connection to Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport and add domestic routes to Balikpapan, Berau (East Kalimantan), and Tarakan (North Kalimantan). Indonesia AirAsia currently links Surabaya to Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur and Penang in Malaysia.

The airline’s Acting CEO, Captain Achmad Sadikin Abdurachman, said the expansion supports the airline’s broader growth strategy within Indonesia and underscores its commitment to enhancing regional and international connectivity.

“We see great potential in the Surabaya market, both for domestic and international travel,” Achmad said in a statement released last week. “These new routes are part of our mission to strengthen air links and offer greater travel options across the archipelago and beyond.”

Surabaya is indeed Indonesia’s second largest city with a population of 3 million inhabitants, including a strong Chinese ethnic group. Surabaya metropolitan area is ASEAN’s 6th largest economy with the city’s gross regional product in PPP estimated at US$150.294 billion.

Indonesia second largest city acts also as a gateway to many tourist attractions. Within easy reach, travelers can visit Mount Bromo, Tumpak Sewu waterfalls or the old colonial city of Malang. The city itself has a large heritage area lined with fine Dutch art deco-style buildings.

Boosting international access

The newly launched Surabaya–Bangkok route not only facilitates direct travel between the two cities. It also offers extended connectivity through AirAsia’s Fly-Thru service. Travelers can transfer seamlessly to destinations including Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Da Nang, Hanoi or India at Don Mueang.

“Direct flights from Surabaya to Bangkok provide added value for tourists. While they enhance Surabaya’s role as an international gateway,” Achmad said.

The Bangkok route is expected to boost two-way tourism traffic. From January to June 2025, Indonesia AirAsia carried more than 310,000 round-trip passengers from Jakarta, Medan, and Bali to Bangkok. “This achievement reflects our contribution to national tourism growth and signals strong potential for the Surabaya–Bangkok corridor,” Achmad added.

Strengthening domestic tourism

On the domestic front, Indonesia AirAsia is responding to growing travel demand to Kalimantan (Borneo). Indonesia office of statistics indicates over 7.1 million domestic tourist arrivals in East and North Kalimantan in the first five months of 2025.

Indonesia AirAsia’s new routes to Borneo island aim to tap into this high mobility and improve inter-island accessibility.

“These additions reinforce our role in connecting the regions and supporting tourism, trade, and economic development,” Achmad said.

With these expansions, Surabaya joins Jakarta, Bali, and Medan as one of Indonesia AirAsia’s main operational hubs, strengthening its position in the country’s increasingly competitive aviation market.