Canberrans will no longer be able to book direct flights to Denpasar, Bali after Batik Air announced a temporary "suspension" of its Canberra-Denpasar route four months after launching it.
The Malaysian airline, whose last flight landed in the ACT earlier this week, has apologised in a statement following concerns raised by people who had booked future flights.
"Batik Air expresses its regret over the temporary suspension of its Denpasar-Canberra route, and acknowledges the concerns raised by affected passengers and the public," the statement said.
The airline said the decision came after a thorough review of operational and commercial factors while prioritising its network's long-term sustainability.
"The suspension was deemed necessary to ensure that Batik Air can continue to operate efficiently across its entire route network," the company said.
"While this decision is not taken lightly, it reflects a commitment to ensuring the reliability and quality of service that passengers expect."
Affected customers can expect refunds and alternative arrangements for any disrupted travel plans, the airline said.
It also said flights would recommence when market conditions were more favourable.
"Batik Air recognises the impact this suspension may have on its passengers and is actively reassessing the Denpasar-Canberra route," it said.
'Issue' with outbound service
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the issue was Batik Air's outbound service because not enough passengers wanted to travel from Denpasar to Canberra.
"It depends on seasonality, the number of flights per week, the type of aircraft, it was [Batik Air's] decision to come into Canberra really seeking to attract tourists to Bali," he said.
"There's not a lot of demand coming out of Bali into Canberra."
Mr Barr said the routes with the highest chance of success needed passengers going both ways and the right kind of aircraft.
"That's why we've been particularly focused on the routes that give connectivity through ports like Singapore, through Fiji into North America, through the Middle East into Europe, I think they're the mainstays."
Canberra Airport's head of Aviation Michael Thompson said the suspension was disappointing. He believed it was not unusual for new destinations to slowly gain popularity.
"We are disappointed that Batik Air has decided to pause operations at Canberra Airport four months after launching services. While new routes often require time to build momentum, we also understand that the airline has faced operational challenges," he said.
"We remain committed to working closely with our airline partners to enhance connectivity and provide our community with the best travel options."
Batik Air's statement didn't say when it would restart flights from Canberra but its online website showed available bookings from December 18 this year.
"The airline looks forward to resuming services on the Denpasar-Canberra route at the earliest opportunity," the statement said.
Batik Air launched weekly flights from Canberra on June 14.
In July, the Air Traffic Safety Bureau opened an investigation into a "serious incident" during the inaugural flight for breaching regulations.
