Indonesian airline TransNusa will launch direct round-trip flights between Lombok and Darwin, Australia in late February or early March 2026, marking the carrier's first international route as it expands beyond its domestic network to tap into growing tourism demand for Indonesian destinations.
TransNusa CEO Bayu Sutanto announced the airline will operate the route using Comac C909 aircraft with 95-seat capacity, with plans to subsequently add a Lombok-Perth service later in 2026 as part of a broader international expansion strategy targeting high-traffic tourist markets.
The West Nusa Tenggara provincial government has expressed optimism that the new Darwin route will significantly boost international visitor arrivals, positioning Lombok as an alternative destination to overcrowded Bali while leveraging the island's proximity to northern Australia and its appeal among foreign tourists.
Beyond Australia, TransNusa is planning additional international routes from Lombok to Southeast Asian cities including Kuala Lumpur and Singapore in the near term, with long-term expansion targeting South Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan as the airline describes Lombok as its "second home" after Bali.
Ticket pricing will depend on market conditions and operational costs, particularly fuel expenses, though Sutanto emphasized the airline aims to offer competitive fares while the route benefits from strong passenger load factors driven by robust tourist traffic to the region's world-class surfing beaches and natural attractions.
