By Adrian Beattie
Indonesian airline Batik Air looks set to bring even more competition to the Perth-Bali holiday market later this month or in the new year at the latest.
The airline announced it has been given an air operator's certificate by the Australian Civil Aviation Authority and hopes to sign off routes as soon as possible.
Batik Air is about to start flights between Perth and Bali.Credit: Batik Air
"Yes, the target is December 2016 or January 2017. We are just trying to manage the airline route's administration," said Lion Air Group President Edward Sirait.
The airline eventually plans to fly to destinations throughout Australia but will start with the Perth-Denpasar route.
The company, which has 28 domestic destination and flights to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur also intends to operate flights to China and India.
Lion Air, the umbrella group behind Batik Air, is the group behind Malindo Air, which already has connections to Perth - operating flights to and from Kuala Lumpur.
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