Figures just released show that 5695 South Australians holidayed in Bali in 2006, just after Garuda ‘pulled the plug' and abandoned the State. That's over 100 passengers a week who went to Bali despite having to go via Melbourne, Sydney, Perth or Darwin - or even via Malaysia or Singapore.
What might these numbers have been if direct flights were available?
Some indication might be found in the numbers for 2007 when 8270 South Australians managed to find their way to Bali via somewhere else in the world. That's nearly 160 a week and clearly rising. Given these figures it's hard to understand why Garuda abandoned its round-route flights through Melbourne when Adelaidians would have half filled the aircraft.
Roll on Pacific Blue I say.