BALINEWSID.COM, BADUNG – The escalating conflict in the Middle East, which has led to airspace closures in several countries including Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Iran, is affecting international flight schedules worldwide, including routes to and from Bali.

As of March 1, 2026, at 01:00 WITA, monitoring reports indicate that five major outbound flights from Bali have been impacted: Etihad Airways (EY477), Qatar Airways (QR963), Emirates (EK369), Qatar Airways (QR961), and Emirates (EK399). The disruptions may result in passenger flow changes at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport due to flight cancellations and rerouting.

In response to the situation, the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office has activated precautionary measures to ensure immigration services continue to operate smoothly and remain conducive despite the uncertainty.

Several strategic steps have been implemented, including the deployment of additional personnel in international arrival and departure areas to anticipate potential surges in passenger queues. Immigration authorities are also conducting intensive coordination with Angkasa Pura I, airport authorities, international airlines, and other related agencies to manage schedule changes and flight rerouting.

Real-time monitoring of flight routes is being carried out through official airline applications and global flight data systems. Updates to standard operating procedures (SOPs) and the activation of contingency plans have also been enforced to ensure optimal handling of affected passengers.

“We continue to closely monitor this global dynamic. Our top priority is to ensure that despite flight schedule disruptions, immigration administrative processes for passengers remain well-served and in accordance with established procedures,” said Bugie Kurniawan, Head of the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office.

Beyond maintaining service efficiency, Ngurah Rai Immigration is also anticipating potential overstay cases involving foreign nationals whose flights have been canceled, preventing them from departing Indonesia as scheduled.

Passengers whose stay permits are nearing expiration or have already expired due to emergency flight disruptions are urged to immediately report to the Immigration Office or the Immigration Service Post at the airport for further guidance. Each case will be handled in accordance with prevailing laws and regulations, with consideration given to force majeure circumstances caused by international flight disturbances.

Immigration authorities emphasized that all cases will be addressed professionally and proportionally, upholding the principles of legal certainty and public service.

“We urge all international passengers, particularly those transiting through Middle Eastern routes, to regularly check their flight status via official airline applications and coordinate with their respective airlines before heading to the airport,” Bugie concluded. (FF)