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Flying around Indonesia: airlines, airports and when a flight beats the boat
Should I fly between Indonesia's islands, and with which airline?
Fly when the distance is long: Jakarta to Bali takes about two hours, Bali to Labuan Bajo 75 minutes, and there is no other quick way to Sulawesi, Papua or Sumatra. Check the free bag before you compare fares: Wings Air and Indonesia AirAsia's base fares include none, Lion Air and Super Air Jet 10 kg, Citilink 15 kg, Batik Air 20 kg and Garuda one 23 kg piece.
Indonesia's domestic airlines and where each one flies
A handful of airlines fly almost every domestic route, and they are not all alike.
| Airline | What it is | Seen on routes such as |
|---|---|---|
| Garuda Indonesia | Full-service flag carrier | Jakarta to Surabaya, Padang; Bali to Sorong |
| Citilink | Garuda's low-cost airline | Jakarta and Halim to Surabaya, Padang; Halim to Yogyakarta |
| Lion Air | Low-cost, Lion group | Jakarta to Surabaya, Padang; Bali to Makassar, Sorong |
| Batik Air | Full-service, Lion group | Bali to Labuan Bajo, Makassar; Denpasar to Tambolaka |
| Super Air Jet | Low-cost, Lion group | Jakarta to Yogyakarta, Semarang, Padang |
| Wings Air | Propeller planes, Lion group | Bali to Lombok; Labuan Bajo to Ende; Tambolaka to Labuan Bajo |
| Indonesia AirAsia | Low-cost | Bali to Labuan Bajo; Kuala Lumpur to Medan |
| TransNusa | Regional jets | Bali to Lombok; Denpasar to Waingapu |
Routes change fast. Wings Air left Denpasar to Waingapu in early 2026, TransNusa started it on 15 July, and Batik Air and NAM Air now fly Denpasar to Tambolaka: always look at the airline actually selling the seat.
The airports you will use: Bali, Jakarta's two, Yogyakarta, Lombok and Labuan Bajo
Your trip will likely pass through one of these airports. Jakarta has two, so check which one is on your ticket.
- Jakarta Soekarno–Hatta (CGK) is the main airport, with the airport train into the city; Halim is the second, used by Batik Air, Citilink, Garuda and FlyJaya on some domestic routes.
- Yogyakarta International (YIA) is outside the city, linked by the airport train; a few flights from Halim land at Adisutjipto instead.
- Bali Ngurah Rai (DPS) is the hub for the east: Lombok, Labuan Bajo, Sumba, Makassar and Sorong all fly from here.
- Lombok International (LOP) is in the south of the island, 30 to 45 minutes from Kuta Lombok.
- Komodo (LBJ) at Labuan Bajo is the gateway to the national park, with a Rp 5,000 DAMRI loop into town.
Checked bags and surfboards on Indonesian domestic flights
Bag allowances differ more than fares do, especially if you travel with a board.
| Airline | Free checked bag, Economy | Surfboard |
|---|---|---|
| Lion Air | 10 kg | Rp 200,000 a segment, up to 230 cm and 23 kg |
| Super Air Jet | 10 kg | Rp 200,000 a segment, up to 230 cm |
| Batik Air | 20 kg | Rp 200,000 a segment, up to 230 cm (200 cm if a Wings Air leg follows) |
| Wings Air | None | Rp 1,010,000 a segment, up to 200 cm |
| Citilink | 15 kg (10 kg on its ATR planes) | Rp 175,000 small, Rp 300,000 medium, Rp 475,000 large |
| Garuda Indonesia | One piece of 23 kg | Sports baggage rules apply |
| Indonesia AirAsia | None on base fares | From Rp 259,000 for 15 kg booked in advance |
The cabin bag is 7 kg on all of them. The Lion group's 10 kg rule applies to tickets issued from 17 July 2025, and Garuda's piece system to tickets issued from 1 September 2026.
Boxes cost extra on the Lion group. Since 1 December 2024, cardboard boxes, styrofoam boxes, sacks and crates larger than 35 by 35 by 30 cm do not count as free baggage on Lion Air, Batik Air, Super Air Jet and Wings Air.
Book the board with the ticket. On AirAsia a 20 kg sports bag costs Rp 345,000 at booking but Rp 360,000 for the first 20 kg at the airport counter, plus Rp 135,000 for each extra kilo.
Flight, fast boat or train: when flying is the better answer
Flying is not always quicker once you add the airport time. Here is how the main trips compare.
| Journey | By air, November 2026 | The alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Jakarta to Bali | About 2 h, from about Rp 1,150,000 | A day or more by train, ferry and bus |
| Bali to Labuan Bajo | 75 to 80 min, from about Rp 915,000 | No direct boat |
| Bali to Makassar | 85 to 90 min, from about Rp 1,615,000 | Pelni ships, much longer |
| Bali to Sorong (Raja Ampat) | Garuda direct 3 h 10 min, about Rp 3,049,000 | Pelni ships |
| Jakarta to Padang (Mentawai) | 105 to 110 min, from about Rp 1,252,000 | 21 to 34 h by bus, from Rp 550,000 |
| Bali to Lombok | 40 to 50 min, from about Rp 780,000 | Fast boat 75 min to Senggigi |
| Jakarta to Yogyakarta | 70 to 80 min to YIA, from about Rp 720,000 | Train, about six hours, centre to centre |
Where the boat or train wins. Bali to the Gilis is one direct fast boat, while the air packages add a drive across Lombok and a boat, about 3 h 50 min door to door; on Java the train runs from city centre to city centre.
Flying into Sumatra from Kuala Lumpur
For November 2026, Indonesia AirAsia, AirAsia, Batik Air and Malaysia Airlines flew direct from Kuala Lumpur to Medan's Kualanamu airport in 60 to 70 minutes, from about Rp 853,000; Kualanamu is the airport for Lake Toba. Direct flights also linked Kuala Lumpur with Padang, for the Mentawai Islands.
Check-in times, ID at the gate and getting from the airport
Check-in closes earlier than many travellers expect on domestic flights.
| Airline | Check-in closes | Gate closes |
|---|---|---|
| Lion Air, Batik Air, Wings Air, Citilink | 30 min before | 15 min before |
| Indonesia AirAsia | 45 min before (bag drop too) | 20 min before |
Garuda at Jakarta's Terminal 3. The domestic counter closes check-in 45 minutes before departure.
Your passport is your ID. Domestic check-in asks for a photo ID, and for a foreigner that is the passport.
From the airport. Jakarta and Yogyakarta have airport trains, and DAMRI runs airport buses in Lombok, Bali and Labuan Bajo; each destination guide has the details.
Routes where flying is an option
Flights appear on the journey pages for Bali to Lombok, Bali to Labuan Bajo, Jakarta to Yogyakarta and Jakarta to Bali.
Flying around Indonesia: what travellers ask
Which airlines fly domestic routes in Indonesia?
Garuda Indonesia and its low-cost arm Citilink; the Lion Air group, with Lion Air, Batik Air, Super Air Jet and Wings Air; Indonesia AirAsia; Pelita Air; TransNusa; and NAM Air, among others. Wings Air flies the propeller planes to the smaller islands.
Do foreigners need a passport for domestic flights in Indonesia?
Yes. Airlines check a photo ID at check-in, and for a foreign passenger that is the passport; Lion Air's terms list the passport beside the Indonesian ID card and driving licence.
How early should I be at the airport for a domestic flight in Indonesia?
Counters open two hours before. Lion Air, Batik Air, Wings Air and Citilink close check-in 30 minutes before departure and the gate 15 minutes before; Indonesia AirAsia closes check-in and bag drop 45 minutes before, as does Garuda's domestic counter at Jakarta's Terminal 3.
How much checked baggage do Indonesian airlines include?
It depends on the airline: none on Wings Air or Indonesia AirAsia base fares, 10 kg on Lion Air and Super Air Jet, 15 kg on Citilink, 20 kg on Batik Air, and one 23 kg piece on Garuda Economy since 1 September 2026.
How much does it cost to fly a surfboard in Indonesia?
Rp 200,000 a segment on Lion Air, Batik Air and Super Air Jet, up to 230 cm; Rp 175,000 to Rp 475,000 on Citilink by size; and Rp 1,010,000 on Wings Air, whose propeller planes take boards only up to 200 cm.
Sources for flights
- Lion Air: terms and conditions (baggage, check-in)
- Batik Air Help Center: bringing a surfboard
- Super Air Jet Help Center: surfboards and bicycles
- Kemenhub UPBU Kepi: Garuda changes its baggage rule from 1 September 2026
- AirAsia support: check-in counter and self bag drop times
- Kemenhub UPBU Lede Kalumbang (Tambolaka): departure routes
- Antara Bali: Ngurah Rai adds Waingapu and Wakatobi routes (17 July 2026)