Bali Bromo Express

Last updated: April 17, 2011

Wings Air launches direct flights from Denpasar to Malang, reducing travel time to Mt Bromo significantly.

For many years, Mt Bromo has been the most visited of Indonesia’s 129 active volcanoes (more than the famous/infamous Anak Krakatau or Mt Kelimutu). This is probably due to its relatively easy access, wide choice of accommodation nearby and proximity to Indonesia’s tourist hub of Bali.

The picture that launched 1000 postcards:
Sunrise at Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park.

In the past, a trip from Bali to the picture postcard moonscape of Mt Bromo usually involved a short flight from Denpasar/Bali to Surabaya, then a bus/train ride to Malang or Probolinggo, then another bus/jeep ride up the mountain in the early morning to the lookout point. Or the more intrepid could take a bus from Bali all the way to Probolinggo (including a short ferry ride). However, both ways could take several hours or longer, due to delays, traffic, narrow/hilly roads, etc.

Left Flag: Mt Bromo, Right Flag: Bali/Denpasar Airport.
As you can see, Malang is much closer to Mt Bromo than Surabaya

However, Wings Air (partner/subsidiary of Lion Air) has launched a new route that reduces the hassle and travel time significantly: Denpasar to Malang.

Using their brand new ATR72-500 aircraft (see above), Wings Air flies this route daily at the following times:

Flight Number	Route	Departs	Arrives
Wings Air JT1840	Denpasar/Bali to Malang	13:45	14:00*
Wings Air JT1841	Malang to Denpasar/Bali	14:25*	16:25

*Local time in Malang is one hour behind Denpasar/Bali

One-way fares start at $US55.

Alternately, if you are flying from Europe to Jakarta, there are also multiple daily flights from Jakarta to Malang.

If you would like a quote for this flight, please fill in an enquiry form here.

12 Comments on “Bali Bromo Express”

1. David says:

   April 17, 2011 at 11:51 pm

   I’ll be taking the bus to Malang although flying there does sound attractive as the last time the traffic was hideous, not just around the mudflow near Surabaya but also in the Malang area itself, just to the north of it where there is that great big bridge, awful traffic, so flying in to Malang from Bali or Jakarta would be great for people as they get to skip Surabaya and the traffic!

   There’s quite a bit of talk these days about developing these smaller airports like Abdurrahman Saleh airport (Malang), also Bandara Iswahyudi (Madiun), Bandara Notohadinegoro (Jember), Bandara Blimbingsari (Banyuwangi), and yes even Sumenep, there isn’t an airport there properly speaking but an air field called Trunojoyo.

   Governor of East Java says it won’t be long before these routes are operational, although I’d imagine it’ll be a good few years yet….

   Surabaya-Blitar

   Surabaya-Sumenep

   Surabaya-Bojonegoro

   Surabaya-Jember

   Also Denpasar to Bojonegoro, as apparently Exxon want that route operational for their personnel or other things to the gas or oil fields there.

   Then, to be exhaustive, they plan on building airports at Pulau Bawean, Gresik, Ponggok, and Jombang.

2. timdog says:

   April 18, 2011 at 3:14 am

   Yeah, that bridge is always a sticky spot.
   I always go up to Malang on the main road, and then come back through Batu, Selekta, Canggar, and down through the forest to Pacet, then cross-country to Krian. You need good brakes for the descent though…

   The airport at Sumenep is a properly paved runway – it’s on the way from the town to Kalianget. I saw an army plane land there once.
   A couple of years back Merpati had a plan to open a route to Sumenep – I think there was talk of Bali-Sumenep-Surabaya. Never happened though; I suppose the bridge cut out some of the impetus, but it’s still a long way down from Suramadu to Sumenep (great town, by the way, and some really lovely countryside around it…)

3. David says:

   April 18, 2011 at 8:58 am

   Where would you stay in Sumenep? Last time I went there was over 10 years ago and I can’t remember the name of the place but it was crummy, run by an old chinese lady who I was told by someone was Muslim. The town is a pleasant place, bit of a contrast to the west, the same person who told me about the old chinese hotel owner also claimed that the reason eastern Madura was cultivated and not rough like the west was because the royal house had its seat there.

   Last time to Malang was in a chartered bus with the whole extended family going down to Sumbermanjing which you no doubt know of, on the way to the beach down there. Anyway we came back in the evening, must have taken 3 or 4 hours, by the time we were approaching sby I was grimly muttering under my breath ‘never again’ (I mean come back in the evening, very early morning is ok), it was such a painful slow trip, really ruined the day, motorbike is better yes…

4. indogirl says:

   April 18, 2011 at 9:03 am

   There is also a night bus going directly from Denpasar to Malang. I usually take this night bus. It’s a long trip, around 9 hours, but at least I can sleep on the bus. And the night bus is quite comfortable. The price is only 150.000 IDR or around 17 USD.
   The bus departs from Ubung bus station at 18.00 WITA and will arrive in Malang at around 03.00 WIB. On the way, the bus will stop at a restaurant in Banyuwangi or Pasir Putih for a late dinner.

   Of course if you take a plane, it obviously cuts the trip shorter, but the airport in Malang is quite far from the center of the city. So you still have to take a taxi or (if you are familiar) bemo. On the other side, the night bus is stopping at the garage or main office which is located in the center of the city. There’s also a hotel not far away from the garage of the bus which offers an affordable price for a room. And in the morning you can find a travel agent which offers a trip to Bromo.

5. David says:

   April 18, 2011 at 9:14 am

   but the airport in Malang is quite far from the center of the city.

   Ah good, bringing us back on topic despite my best efforts. Good that the night bus stops in the centre of town as the bus terminal is quite far out as well isn’t it.

   I guess flying would have an appeal for some folks though, for us old decrepit people who can’t handle that many hours in a bus, or families, etc.

6. indogirl says:

   April 18, 2011 at 10:06 am

   The bus station is in fact far away from the city center, but the night bus isn’t stop at the bus station. they stop directly at their garage in the city center.

   I don’t say taking night bus is a better option than flying. I’m just giving some information that I know. Just wanna help people who might need some info.

7. timdog says:

   April 18, 2011 at 1:42 pm

   Where would I stay in Sumenep?
   I’ve always stayed in Wijaya 1 on the right on the main street as you come into town. I think that was probably the crummy place with an old Chinese lady at the helm. It’s not exactly star-resort level, but the sheets are clean. I don’t know whether the old Chinese woman is a Muslim or not, but they’ve got plenty of dusty bottles of Bintang in their “restaurant”…
   There is a slightly posher place on the left, further back out of town on the way in; I can’t remember the name.

   Yes, the fact that Sumenep is a pleasant “soft” place is usually attributed by locals to the fact that it’s a “kraton city” (and by people in Java – who’ve never been there – when you cite Sumenep as an example of why Madura isn’t the worst place on earth – “Ah, but it’s different in Sumenep…”)…
   They supposedly speak the best, “softest” Madurese there, and Sumenep Madurese has stratifications like Javanese, with high, middle and low.

8. cindy says:

   April 29, 2011 at 10:41 pm

   boleh kasih impormasi gak apa bisa penerbangan dari bali ke banyuwangi , thanks

9. ann says:

   March 7, 2013 at 10:14 am

   i’m going to malang in August. what would be the easiest, fastest and cheapest way?
   i’ll be travelling from Manila, Philippines.

10. Chris says:

    March 7, 2013 at 12:06 pm

    Hi Ann,

    Cebu Pacific Air has flights 4 days/week between Manila and Jakarta, and 2 days/week between Manila and Denpasar (Bali). You can get a connecting domestic flight to Malang from Jakarta or Bali.

    We can assist with the flight between Jakarta/Denpasar and Malang. If you would like a quote, please fill in an enquiry form.

11. Ann says:

    March 7, 2013 at 12:53 pm

    Hi Chris,

    Which is better, Manila to Jakarta or Denpasar? I need to be in Malang by Aug 4. Submitted the form. :)Thanks.

12. Chris says:

    March 8, 2013 at 12:18 am

    Cebu Pacific Air flights are overnight. CPA arrives in Jakarta just before midnight, and Denpasar at 07:35.

    If you would to avoid an overnight stay at the airport, the way to go would be Manila-Denpasar-Malang-Jakarta-Manila.