29 Jan 2025
January 29, 2025 – To celebrate the 2025 Lunar New Year, which fell on January 29, I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport enlivened the festivities with a series of cultural activities. Passengers traveling on that day had the opportunity to witness a lively lion dance parade that passed through both the domestic and international terminals. General Manager of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Ahmad Syaugi Shahab, said that such thematic events are regularly held to create memorable passenger experiences.
"This year’s Lunar New Year, the 2576 Kongzili, is the Year of the Wood Snake. Therefore, the terminal decorations were also designed to reflect this theme. A Chinese ambiance was presented through traditional instrumental music played repeatedly, allowing passengers to feel the festive spirit of Lunar New Year at the airport," he explained.
The lion dance parade at the terminal also captured the attention of many travelers. The dancers’ agile movements, accompanied by the rhythmic beats of drums, gongs, and cymbals, added to the festive atmosphere. Many passengers stopped to take photos and selfies with the performers.
Bao-Yu, a passenger from China, expressed her delight at being able to experience the New Year’s spirit while traveling. "It is so enjoyable because the airport brought the Lunar New Year atmosphere to us, so even while traveling we can still celebrate. The decorations, the ambiance, and the friendliness of the airport staff were wonderful. It was truly a new and delightful experience for us," she said.
The Lunar New Year holiday, which coincided with the Isra’ Mi’raj holiday at the end of January, also contributed to an increase in passenger traffic at the airport. During the long holiday period between January 24 and February 5, 2025, passenger numbers were estimated to reach 864,000, up 9 percent compared to the previous Lunar New Year period, which recorded 789,000 passengers.
The airport projected an average of 66,000 daily passengers during the holiday, representing a 5 percent increase compared to January’s daily average of 63,000 passengers. The increase began on Friday, January 24, which also became the peak of passenger movement with 74,791 travelers recorded.
Passenger arrivals were notably higher during this period, with the busiest domestic arrivals on Saturday, January 25 reaching 18,145 passengers, and the busiest international arrivals on Friday, January 24 with 22,663 passengers. The airport also predicted the return peak of Lunar New Year travel on January 30, 2025, with around 74,000 passengers.
To manage the surge, I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport deployed additional staff and facilities to ensure optimal service for travelers. Information technology tools, previously applied during the Christmas and New Year travel period, were also used to forecast peak hours and help mitigate long queues.
