Lombok trade rallies for Jetstar’s Perth services to continue

JETSTAR’S impending cessation of its four-weekly Perth-Lombok services on October 17 is a blow to the travel industry on the island.

Lombok has enjoyed significant growth in arrivals from Australia since the services commenced last October, but in less than a year, Jetstar had on June 5 announced it is making changes to the Perth network due to weak demand.

“Despite our best efforts to promote Lombok as a destination, we are just not seeing enough demand to sustain services at this time,” said the airline’s spokesperson.

Jetstar will up its Perth-Denpasar service to thrice daily and offer passengers who have booked to fly (Perth-Lombok) after October 16 a flight to Denpasar, or a full refund, plus a voucher of A$50 (US$47).

Stevan Servin, chairman, Lombok Hotel Association, said: “We are sad to hear this. Even without much promotion, Jetstar’s average load factor is 63 per cent. Just last week we (the travel industry) met with Australian wholesalers to create promotional programmes to boost (Jetstar’s load factor) further.”

Speaking to TTG Asia e-Daily, Servin said West Nusa Tenggara vice governor would travel to Australia next Tuesday to meet with Jetstar executives to explore ways to continue the service.

Sheraton Senggigi Beach Resort Lombok director of sales, Jelantik Suharta, who attended the Bali & Beyond Travel Fair, said: “It will be a big loss for us. Our Australia market has been up from five to 25 per cent since Jetstar started direct flights.

“Australian visitors have stayed up to six nights with us, which means the flight has (helped) Lombok to become a mono destination.”

Judy Anglim, product manager, Specialist Infinity Australia, said the development of new hotels, especially upmarket villas, has given Lombok something to offer high-end travellers.

She added: “What the direct flight has done is increase much awareness of the destination. We are going to push for it to stay.

“Besides, Garuda Indonesia has been offering an add-on between Bali and Lombok for A$50 (for travellers) from Australia. As long as Garuda continues to do so, I think Lombok will continue to be attractive to the Australians.”

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