Image: Lion Air Flying to China (airportsinternational.com)
Lion Air is expanding its operations into China by opening direct flights to Bali from Zhengzhou. Starting on 26th November 2017, the flights will operate four times a week.
The low cost carrier airline will serve the Zhengzhou-Bali flight with Boeing 737-MAX 8 planes with 175 seat capacity. The flight schedule has also been confirmed. The flight will fly from Zhengzhou at 5:40 pm, landing at Ngurah Rai Bali at 00:30 AM. The return flight will depart from Ngurah Rai Bali at 08:30 am, and is scheduled to arrive in Zhengzhou at 3:20pm.
“We are opening flights between Zhengzhou to Bali because of the high number of Chinese tourists who want to go to Indonesia,” said Andy M Saladin, Public Relations Manager of Lion Air Group, Tuesday (24/10), as reported by Bali Post.
With the operation of this flight Lion Air now has flights to five destinations in China. Other destinations are Guangzhou, Changsha, Shenzen and Shanghai.
“We are seeing tremendous growth and development regarding the visits of foreign tourists, especially from China who come to Indonesia via Bali. It makes us feel the need to add new access to one of the cities in China,” said Andy.
He added that Lion Air are committed to continue to develop its range and connectivity. “We hope this will encourage a rise in the number of Chinese tourists to Bali,” he added.
Tourism Minister Arief Yahya immediately welcomed the new flights. He also sent a message of appreciation to Lion Air for increasing seat capacity from China to Indonesia.
“Zhengzhou is the Little Heaven of China. It is a historical and cultural city. It has a beautiful panorama like mountains and ancient buildings so that Zhengzhou can become the entrance of Southeast Asian tourism into China too,” he said.
The potential is very large considering every year tourists to Zhengzhou reach 18 million people. Overall, the number of outbound Chinese tourists is also very large. Currently, there are 120 million Chinese people who travel abroad, and only 1.7 million people who chose Indonesia as a tourist destination. “With this direct flight we are tempting tourists to visit tourist destinations in Indonesia. Thank you Lion Air,” said Tourism Minister Arief Yahya.
