Bali plans fast ferry from the airport to popular beach

The timing is not ideal given recent ferry incidents, but local government in south-west Bali is planning a fast boat route linking I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport to the surf resort of Canggu.

The planned ferry route will aim to bypass Bali’s infamous traffic jams and give visitors a faster, more scenic way to reach the popular surfing destinations on the island, news hub Travel Mole reports.

The project is part of a wider push to roll out multiple water taxi services across the island over the next year.

Badung Regent Wayan Adi Arnawa told local reporters that road construction alone will not solve anymore the congestion choking Canggu’s streets.

“If we want to overcome traffic jams, it’s not enough to just build roads,” he was reported as saying “We also need alternative transportation systems. In 2026, we will design a public transportation network.”

The proposed airport–Canggu sea link would be a first step. 

Arnawa said the service would offer tourists a comfortable, affordable, and time-saving alternative to navigating crowded highways, getting them straight from the airport to the beach by boat.

If successful, similar routes could connect other tourism hotspots, including Uluwatu and the island of Nusa Penida.

Arnawa acknowledged that new infrastructure will be needed along Bali coasts. This would include upgraded beaches and piers.

Discussions are reportedly underway with state-owned ferry operator PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero).

Image: Canggu, The Bali Sun 

Heavy metal: Calls for airport to be named after Ozzy Osbourne

 

Birmingham International Airport (BHX) in the UK could soon be known as Ozzy Osbourne Airport.

There have been calls for the airport to be re-named to honour the Birmingham-born former Black Sabbath singer, who died this week.

Osbourne never lost his Brummie accent despite spending much of his life in the US and a movement is gaining steam to honour the larger-than-life rocker with a petition launched by fan Dan Hudson after his death.

“Naming our international airport after him would be a fitting tribute to his extraordinary career and contributions to the arts,” Hudson said.

“Together, we can celebrate the legacy of Ozzy Osbourne and the incredible influence our city has had on the world stage, thanks to him.”

He cited examples of British airports named after celebrities including John Lennon Airport in Liverpool and George Best Airport in Belfast.

A new route between Sydney and Bangkok

You might wonder why AirAsia gets a lot of coverage here.

1. They offer a great service.

2. They are very good at communications and special offers.

Today’s news is Thai AirAsia X will welcome flyers beckons back to Thailand ahead of the peak end of year travel season with direct Sydney-Bangkok (Don Mueang Airport) flights, to be available six times a week starting from Sydney from December 2, 2024. 

Seats are on sale now starting from just $333* direct to Bangkok - or with a Fly Thru option via Don Mueang Airport to leisure destinations like Phuket, Chiang Mai, Krabi in Thailand and internationally to Da Nang in Vietnam, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad in India and many more. 

Booking are available at the airasia.com website, or the airasia MOVE app between August 19-25 for travel commencing from Sydney from December 

Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO of Thai AirAsia X, said: “Thai AirAsia X is returning to Sydney with a better network, schedule and enhanced connectivity spanning over 50 Aussie favourite destinations in Thailand and beyond to meet strong demand.

“At the same time, we are increasing the number of flights between both destinations to fly six times weekly every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday (2 flights), and Saturday. Arriving at Don Mueang Airport (DMK) makes the route even more convenient, placing passengers just 30 minutes from central Bangkok via public transport options such as the sky train (Red Line), airport bus, and taxi cabs. 

“Outbound travellers with connecting services will also save time at the airport by being able to quickly pass from check-in through immigration to their gate at the same airport with no need to change airport terminals like before.”

When you have to pilot a taxi yourself because your driver is asleep

Imagine having to drive a taxi because your driver is too sleepy. 

That's exactly what happened to a Thai woman this week. 

The woman from Pattaya became a social media sensation after sharing her hilarious encounter with the over-tired taxi driver online, Asean Now reported. 

 The woman posted a video on TikTok on May 21, sharing how she had to drive a taxi to Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok at 3am after the driver fell asleep.

The woman and her friend called a cab in the early hours, and they noticed the driver looked tired while behind the wheel. 

When the driver actually nodded off at the wheel, the woman asked if she could drive instead.

In the video, it's clear that the driver allowed the woman to take over and moved to the back seat for some much-needed sleep. 

The woman's friend said: "We drove ourselves from Pattaya to Don Mueang Airport, with the driver sleeping soundly behind us."

"Only in Thailand!" says our Thai correspondent. 

It will be more expensive to visit Bali from February

Bali's long-promised tourism tax will be imposed on visitors to the Indonesian holiday island from Valentine’s Day next year.

All foreign nationals arriving in Bali from February 14, 2024, will be required to pay a fixed fee of IDR150,000 ($15) when they enter the country.

The charge will also be levied on children.

Payment counters will be set up at Denpasar Airport to enable payment in cash or by credit card.

Local officials say it will take just a few seconds per traveller to process the fee, Travel Mole reports. But how long will the queues be? How much chaos will there be?

There have also been discussions about an advance online payment system, which may be implemented before the tourist fee payment is imposed.

Non-Indonesians arriving at Denpasar Airport via domestic flights will also have to pay the fee.

Funds raised by the Bali tourism fee will reportedly go towards environmental and tourism infrastructure projects.

Balinese officials recently proposed a light rail connecting the international airport to holiday hotspot Kuta and southern beach destinations as a way of cracking down on traffic jams.

That gold must be somewhere: massive heist at Toronto airport

Toronto's Lester Pearson Airport was a complete shambles when I was unfortunate enough to use it last year.

So it comes as no surprise to hear that millions of dollars worth of gold and other-high value goods went missing at the airport - and no one has a clue how it happened.

Canadian police are investigating the theft of at least $20 million in gold from a container that was being shipped through the airport, Travel Mole reports.

The entire container apparently disappeared without anyone noticing.

“Our investigators have got their eyes opened to all avenues - we’re looking at all angles on how this item was stolen,” said Peel Regional Police Inspector Stephen Duivesteyn.

“What I can say is that the container had a high-value shipment. It did contain gold but was not exclusive to gold and contained other items of monetary value.”

Local media reported that more than 1,600kg of gold was in the container.

Police said there was no impact to normal airport and passenger operations.

The Greater Toronto Airports Authority said the thieves accessed the cargo holding area via an adjacent company which has its entrance outside secure areas of the airport.

No arrests have been made yet. 

Snakes alive! "Emotional support reptile" kicked off flight

Americans seem to suffer from a bizarre range of mental issues.

Like the one who recently tried to smuggle a snake on board a flight, claiming it was "an emotion support reptile".

The traveller was stopped after Transportation Security Administration officers encountered the snake hidden in hand luggage.

The 1.3 metre boa constrictor, was spotted on a security checkpoint X-ray (above) at Tampa International Airport, Travel Mole reported.

Its owner maintained it was her emotional support snake called Bartholomew.

“Our officers didn’t find this hysssssterical,” a TSA Instagram post said.

“TSA notified the airline, which ruled that there was not going to be a snake on their plane.” 

Both the woman and the snake were refused access to the plane.

In recent weeks a dog and a cat have both been found in carry-on bags at security screenings in the US.

Look out! That's a motorbike on the runway

Airline pilots have several issues that they confront on a regular basis. Shifting winds, thunderstorms, flocks of birds, heavy clouds among them.

But one obstacle they do not often have to deal with is a motorbike on the runaway when they land.

In a tragedy earlier this month an Airbus A320 belonging to TAP (Air Portugal) collided with a motorcycle shortly after landing in Conakry, in the African nation of Guinea, after a flight from Lisbon.

Both the rider and his pillion passenger died in the incident, reportedly after being sucked into the aircraft's engines.

Flight TP1492 landed at Conakry’s Ahmed Sékou Touré International Airport last week and its right engine collided with the motorcycle that was crossing the runway.

The bike rider was reported to have been a security officer at the airport but it was not known what he was doing on the runway.

While the aircraft’s engine suffered significant damage, there were no reported injuries among the passengers and crew onboard, although the return flight was cancelled.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Guinea (AGAC) has commenced an investigation into the incident.

TAP said in a statement: “Passengers and crew are all fine. All safety procedures were followed, but even so, it was not possible to avoid the accident. TAP is naturally collaborating with the local authorities to investigate the circumstances."

Snakes alive! Travellers caught with live reptiles

Two Indian women were arrested at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport after a menagerie of wildlife was found in their luggage.

Thai officials say they found 109 snakes, lizards and other reptiles.

Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation said the animals were spotted at x-ray screening of two suitcases, Travel Mole reported.

The animal cache also included two white porcupines, two armadillos, and 35 turtles.

Nithya Raja, 38, and Zakia Sulthana Ebrahim, 24 were arrested when trying to board a flight for Chennai. India.

They faces charges under the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act.

It was not clear what the women had planned to do with the animals had they got them to India. 

Nutter alert at Bangkok airport

A review of security is underway at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport after a maniac made it onto the tarmac.

The man was wielding an axe and pointing a gun at airport staff pursuing him, Travel Mole reported.

The gun turned out to be a non-lethal, replica firearm.

The man was eventually cornered near an airbridge and subdued by security personnel.

He reportedly gained airside access earlier this week through a staff entrance.

Offender is subdued. (photo source)

Police said Wachara Khambutr, 34 of Loei province, was high on drugs at the time.

Airport general manager, Kittipong Kittikachorn said security guidelines were followed.

“I can assure everyone that Suvarnabhumi airport maintains its internationally accepted standard of security,” he said.

Airport police Col. Jirawat Piampinset said Wachara is facing charges of damaging property, drug possession and carrying weapons that threatened airport safety.