Indonesia AirAsia management held the Central Sulawesi Air Connectivity and Business Opportunities Forum on Monday, February 2, 2026. This event aimed to introduce AirAsia Indonesia’s new route from Palu to Surabaya, Kendari, and Luwuk via Makassar. The route is expected to strengthen air connectivity and boost tourism and economic growth in Central Sulawesi.
At the forum, Indonesia AirAsia outlined plans to open a twice-daily Makassar-Palu route and a once-daily Makassar-Luwuk route, both operated by a 180-seat Airbus A320 aircraft. The inaugural flight is scheduled for March 7, 2026, connecting Palu with other cities.
In addition to serving domestic routes, the Palu-Makassar route also offers passengers the opportunity to continue their international journeys through Makassar Airport with faster and more efficient Fly-Thru connections, particularly to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, as well as various other destinations within the AirAsia Group network.
The event also presented the readiness of Mutiara Sis Al-Jufri International Airport in Palu to support the opening of new routes, including the readiness of terminal facilities, flight operations, immigration services, and coordination between Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) and relevant agencies to ensure safe, smooth, and compliant passenger and cargo services.
With an increasing number of airlines and flight routes, the public now has more flexible, efficient, and affordable travel alternatives. Therefore, air connectivity is expected to be optimally utilized to support mobility, tourism, and regional economic growth.
