AirAsia announced a string of new routes and added frequencies across its Australian network, while simultaneously stepping back from one of its smaller outposts. The airline’s expansion is part of its strategy of growing where demand is strong, and pulling back where it isn’t.
The biggest addition is a new route between Melbourne Airport (MEL) and Bali’s Denpasar Airport (DPS), launching March 21, 2026, which brings 130,000 new seats to the market each year. Adelaide Airport (ADL) will also see more flights, with its Bali service growing from four to seven times weekly on the same date, and up to 10 flights weekly during peak periods, adding more than 56,000 seats through Adelaide annually.
On the Kuala Lumpur front, both Sydney and Melbourne now have daily service, with premium cabin and flatbed seating options available for those who want a little more comfort on the low-cost carrier.
Perth Airport (PER), meanwhile, continues to be the airline’s most heavily served Australian gateway, with four daily Bali frequencies running year-round and double daily flights to Kuala Lumpur, climbing to three daily during peak seasons.
Taken together, AirAsia is targeting up to 100 weekly frequencies across its four Australian gateways during peak periods in 2026, up from 69 in 2025. The airline already carries close to one million passengers between Australia and Asia each year.
For travelers connecting beyond Bali or Kuala Lumpur, AirAsia’s Fly-Thru product allows seamless onward connections to more than 150 destinations without having to collect baggage. From Kuala Lumpur, that includes long-haul options to London-Heathrow Airport (LHR), Istanbul Airport (IST), and Tashkent International Airport (TAS), placing Australia within reach of a surprisingly broad low-cost network.
Darwin left behind
Despite the growth in major Australian cities, AirAsia confirmed it will suspend flights between Darwin Airport (DRW) and both Kuala Lumpur and Bali from April 28, 2026. The routes, operated by AirAsia Malaysia and Indonesia AirAsia, have been running for close to a year, but passenger numbers never reached a commercially viable level.
The airline said it will contact affected customers directly, with refunds processed within 14 days. It also acknowledged the support of Darwin Airport and the Northern Territory Tourism Board, leaving the door open to a potential return if demand conditions improve.
The Darwin withdrawal shows the focused approach AirAsia says it is taking to the Australian market, concentrating capacity where demand is strongest rather than spreading itself thin.
