Manado, LOGIC.co.id – Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi, Indonesia, is now even more connected to China as Lucky Air, a Chinese airline, has officially launched a direct flight route between Kunming and Manado. The inaugural flight took off on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, from Kunming Changshui International Airport and landed at Sam Ratulangi International Airport in Manado.
According to Agustinus Budi Hartono, Director of Air Transport at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the Lucky Air flight arrived in Manado at 9:30 PM WITA (Central Indonesia Time) and departed back to Kunming at 10:45 PM WITA.
“The inaugural flight carried 152 passengers from Kunming to Manado, while the return flight from Manado to Kunming had three passengers,” Agustinus stated in an official press release on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.
Lucky Air’s Flight Schedule and Aircraft
Lucky Air has obtained approval to operate the Kunming-Manado route three times a week, specifically on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The airline uses the Airbus A320neo (A32N), a fuel-efficient aircraft designed for medium-haul flights with high efficiency.
“Lucky Air has been granted permission to serve the Kunming-Manado route three times a week—on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays—using the A320neo aircraft,” Agustinus confirmed.
Lucky Air Joins Other Chinese Airlines Flying to Indonesia
Lucky Air is not the only Chinese airline offering flights to Indonesia. Several other airlines have already been operating routes between China and various Indonesian cities, including:
- Xiamen Airlines: Provides daily flights between China and Denpasar, Bali.
- China Eastern Airlines: Connects Shanghai and Denpasar on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
- China Southern Airlines: Operates daily flights between Guangzhou and Denpasar since July 1, 2023.
The addition of this new route is expected to boost tourist arrivals from China to Manado and strengthen trade and tourism ties between the two countries.
About Lucky Air
Lucky Air is a Chinese airline based in Kunming, Yunnan Province. It was initially established as Shilin Airlines in July 2004 before being rebranded as Lucky Air on December 23, 2005.
Domestically, Lucky Air serves several routes within China, including flights between Dali, Kunming, and Xishuangbanna. The airline continues to expand its network to more cities.
The launch of the Kunming-Manado route marks a strategic step for Lucky Air in expanding its international connectivity, providing greater convenience for tourists and business travelers between China and Indonesia.