FAQ'S                                                                 FLIGHTS

 

 

  • Which airlines should I choose for intercontinental flights to Indonesia?

I cannot speak for other continents but from Europe the best airlines are:

- Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong
- China Airlines via Taipe

- Etihad Airways via Abu Dhabi

- Emirates via Dubai

- Garuda Indonesia via Jakarta

- KLM via Singapore
- Korean Air via Seoul

- Qatar Airways, via Doha

- Singapore Airlines via Singapore

- Turkish Airlines via Istanbul

Except for Etihad Airways all of the above airlines have both flights to Jakarta and to Denpasar.

 

  • What is the best airline to Indonesia?

The term best airline is not for everyone the same. Speaking about quality and ranking on official websites I would say: Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways.

 

  • When should I book my intercontinental flight to Indonesia?

It depends on when you want to spend your holiday in Indonesia. 
-for the months July and August the best time is to book the year before between  September and November; this is from Europe. I guess from other continents it will be about the same.

-for flights between 10 December and 15 January the best period is around
  May/June

-for flights after 15 January, February, March, April, May and June the best time
  to book is 4 to 6 months before

-for flights in September, October, November and up untill 10 December the
  best time to book is 4 to 6 months before
Note: since 2022 prices of flights have increased dramatically.

 

  • What is the cheapest airline to Indonesia?

This varies from time to time. So, just check them all. The fact is none of them are cheap currently like back in 2019.

 

  • Which airline or airport should I choose when coming from abroad?

This depends very much on your plans before or after Flores. Coming from abroad and when you go to Flores only or combine Flores with Bali, Lombok, Sulawesi, Sumba or Timor the best airport is Denpasar.

 

  • When should I book domestic flights?

Tickets for the months July, August, the Idul Fitri period (the first two weeks of April in 2024) and between 15 December and 15 January you best book 2 to 3 months ahead.

Outside these periods 1 month in advance or even shorter should be fine.

 

  • How many airports has Flores

Flores has 6 airports; from east to west:

Larantuka       Kupang

Maumere        Labuan Bajo, Kupang (Timor), Denpasar (Bali)

Ende                 Labuan Bajo, Kupang (Timor)

Bajawa               Labuan Bajo, Kupang (Timor)

Ruteng             Kupang (Timor) however currently not operational

Labuan Bajo   Bajawa, Ende, Maumere, Denpasar (Bali), Jakarta, Kupang and
                          Surabaya 

 

  • Which airlines fly to Flores?

Air Asia, Batik Air, Citilink, Garuda, Lion Air an Super Air Jet - Labuan Bajo

Wings Air - Bajawa, Ende, Labuan Bajo, Larantuka, Maumere

NAM Air (Sriwijaya) - Maumere

 

  • Why are flights Denpasar to Ende and Maumere so expensive?

I suppose you mean comparing with those to Labuan Bajo right?
Well actually it wasn't like that before covid. Before March 2020 flights to Ende or Maumere were still a reasonable 1,2 to 1,2 million. Today you are lucky to find one for 2,2 million but most are more expensive up to 2,4 million. Also flights within Flores labuan Bajo to Bajawa, Ende and Maumere are expensive.
Nobody can tell you why. On top of this flights to Labuan Bajo are sometimes rediculously cheap with sometimes 500k or even below.
This means Maumere and Ende have a hard time since today many travelers choose to fly in and out to/from Labuan Bajo. The problem is that travelers often don't have enough time for an overlandtrip.
A classic overlandtrip (=Labuan Bajo - Ruteng - Bajawa - Moni - Ende) or Maumere can be done in 4 days, however more convenient in 5 to 6 days or more. For a roundtrip eg Labuan Bajo - Labuan Bajo a minimum of 6 days is needed but this means you will be in the car every day and on 2 days quite a long time. Plus you need to do the trip both the same way.
You can do a roundtrip partly via the north coast, which means you also will visit Riung (Marine park 17 islands) for which you will need at least 7 days but preferably 9 to 10 days.

 

  • What about safety and delays of Indonesian carriers

Almost all Indonesian carriers were blacklisted in Europe for years but all of them are removed in 2018. Safety has been increased in last decade. However delays are still an issue with Lion Air and Wings Air as the absolute number one and sadly Flores depends on Wings Air for most flights.

Photo's

Anne Mieke  -AM PHOTONESIA©-