Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport to Begin Closing Thursday Morning

Denpasar: I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali will suspend all flight operations for 24 hours during the Nyepi Day celebrations, Saka New Year 1948, on Thursday, March 19, 2026.

This total closure is a form of respect for Hindus observing the Catur Brata Penyepian (Day of Silence).

This policy is outlined in Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) number A0096 issued by AirNav Indonesia and is effective from 6:00 a.m. Central Indonesian Time (WITA) to 6:00 a.m. Central Indonesian Time (WITA) on Friday, March 20, 2026.

"During this period, no regular commercial flights will depart or land at the airport," said Nugroho Jati, General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia, I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport.

The airport has coordinated with all stakeholders, including airlines and relevant authorities, to ensure this information is communicated to prospective passengers. Each airline has also made schedule adjustments to allow the public to reschedule their travel plans.

A total of 440 scheduled flights will be suspended during the closure period, consisting of 231 domestic routes and 209 international routes. As a precaution, 19 aircraft will remain overnight (RON) at Ngurah Rai Airport during the 24-hour closure.

Although flight operations have been suspended, airport personnel remain on standby to handle emergencies, such as medical evacuations or special flights authorized by the relevant authorities.

The last flight before the closure is scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, March 18, 2026. For domestic routes, the last departure is at 11:10 PM WITA and the last arrival is at 11:05 PM WITA.

For international routes, the last departure is at 1:30 AM WITA and the last arrival is at 12:30 AM WITA on Thursday morning. After Nyepi ends, flight services will return to normal on Friday morning, with the first domestic departure scheduled at 7:00 AM WITA and the first international flight at 8:15 AM WITA.

The airport closure is part of a broader adjustment to transportation operations in Bali. Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi stated that ferry services on the Ketapang-Gilimanuk and Padang Bai-Lembar routes have also been temporarily suspended, and public transportation terminals, such as the Mengwi Type A Terminal, are limiting departures until one day before Nyepi.

These measures are being taken to maintain smooth mobility before and after Nyepi, while also respecting Hindu religious practices. (Muhammad Adyatma Damardjati)