As of 2026, the Lombok-Gili seaplane network exists only on paper: a planned waterbase at Bendungan Batujai in Central Lombok would feed amphibious flights to five NTB island destinations including Gili Trawangan, but take-off and landing permits for Gili Trawangan have not been issued because the island sits inside a conservation area. Every passenger who needs to cross today still travels by boat, land transfer, or a combination of both. This page maps the sites named in the current planning documents, flags every projection as a projection, and lays out what actually operates on the water right now.
Is anything flying between Lombok and the Gili Islands today?
No. There is no scheduled, publicly advertised seaplane network serving Lombok, the Gili Islands (Trawangan, Air, Meno), or Mandalika as of mid-2026. Santai Seaplane Indonesia runs a Bali-Lombok charter product and is the only clearly commercial seaplane brand visible in search results for this corridor. It is a third-party operator, not affiliated with this site, and it does not currently advertise a Lombok-Gili leg. Everything else citable on this route is a boat plus a land transfer.
Gili Trawangan: the approach that needs a permit first
Gili Trawangan is named in the NTB-PT Aman Air memorandum of understanding (reported 28 February 2026) as one of five destinations for the planned waterbase network. The same report states plainly that take-off and landing permits for Trawangan have not been granted, because the island and its surrounding waters are a conservation area under local marine protection rules. If a site is eventually approved, an offshore pontoon or mooring buoy with a short tender transfer to the jetty is the landing pattern used at comparable protected-water sites elsewhere in Indonesia — this is a projection, not a confirmed design, since no engineering plan for Trawangan has been published.
Gili Air: calmer water, no confirmed site
Gili Air sits on the more sheltered east side of the three islands, which is one reason public boats already favor it as a quick first stop from Bangsal. No landing site, pontoon location, or jetty integration plan has been published for Gili Air specifically. Any seaplane use here would most plausibly piggyback on existing harbor infrastructure, but that is inference from the island’s geography, not a documented plan.
Gili Meno: likely an indirect stop, if it happens at all
Gili Meno has the smallest population and the least existing marine infrastructure of the three Gilis. Nothing in the current MoU or the December 2025 NTB tourism reporting singles out Meno by name. If amphibious service ever reaches Meno, the most likely pattern — based on how the smaller island is already served by boat, via a connection through Trawangan or Air rather than a direct route — is indirect access, not a standalone landing site.
Mandalika and Kuta Bay: named in early planning, not detailed
NTB tourism news dated 27 December 2025 said seaplane flights linking Lombok’s airport to small islands were being prepared to start in 2026, with Mandalika’s coastal tourism zone mentioned as a beneficiary region rather than a confirmed water-landing point. No specific bay, buoy, or pontoon location within Mandalika or Kuta Bay has been published. Treat any Mandalika seaplane reference as regional intent, not a sited facility.
Batujai waterbase: the one site with a signed document behind it
Bendungan Batujai, a reservoir in Central Lombok, is the site named in the actual signed MoU between the NTB provincial government and PT Aman Air. It is described as a base for amphibious flights reaching five NTB island destinations, Gili Trawangan among them. A signed MoU is a planning commitment, not an operating permit — construction timelines, certification status, and an opening date have not been published as of this writing.
Lombok International Airport (BIZAM): the land-based anchor
BIZAM in Praya remains the only certified air gateway to Lombok. Any future amphibious network described in NTB tourism materials treats BIZAM as the land-air anchor point that a Batujai-based water network would eventually connect to, not as a water-landing site itself. Today, every visitor still reaches the Gilis from BIZAM by road to Bangsal or Teluk Nare, then by boat.
Water-landing sites at a glance
| Site | Status (2026) | Likely landing mode | Tender time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gili Trawangan | Named in MoU; permit pending (conservation area) | Offshore pontoon/buoy + tender (projection) | Unconfirmed |
| Gili Air | Not named individually; no published plan | Possible jetty integration (projection) | Unconfirmed |
| Gili Meno | Not named individually; no published plan | Likely indirect via Air/Trawangan (projection) | Unconfirmed |
| Mandalika/Kuta Bay | Regional mention only, Dec 2025 report | No sited location published | Unconfirmed |
| Batujai waterbase | MoU signed 28 Feb 2026 | Reservoir-based amphibious base | Unconfirmed |
| BIZAM (Lombok Airport) | Certified, operating today | Land-air gateway, not a water site | Not applicable |
Seaplane versus the boat you can actually book today
No seaplane fare table exists for this corridor, and none should be invented. What exists is a working boat network:
| Route/service | Fare (IDR) | Crossing time |
|---|---|---|
| Bangsal → Gili Air (public boat) | 15,000 | ~20 min |
| Bangsal → Gili Meno (public boat) | 18,000 | ~30 min |
| Bangsal → Gili Trawangan (public boat) | 20,000 | ~40 min |
| Teluk Nare → any Gili (fast boat) | 85,000-150,000 | 10-15 min |
| Bangsal → any Gili (private speedboat, per boat) | 550,000 | ~15 min |
| Gili Air → Teluk Nare/Kodek (private) | 450,000 | 10-15 min |
| Padang Bai → Gili/Bangsal (Bali departure) | 250,000-350,000 | ~1.5 hrs |
Inter-Gili and Gili-Bangsal fast-boat fares generally run IDR 100,000-150,000, and a morning Gili Air-to-Trawangan connection can be indirect depending on the operator’s schedule.
Why the regulation matters before any seaplane flies here
Indonesia’s Ministerial Regulation on Water Aerodromes, issued August 2025, treats a seaplane as two different vehicles depending on where it is: a vessel on the water and an aircraft in the air, mirroring ICAO guidance. On the water, an operator must follow shipping-sector rules, coordinate with coastal radio stations and vessel traffic services, and hold an operational coordination agreement with AirNav Indonesia and the relevant maritime authority. The water aerodrome itself — meaning the landing site — must be certified or registered before commercial flights can use it. That certification step is exactly what is missing at every site on this page, Batujai included, as of mid-2026.
Weather windows that would apply if a network opens
The Lombok Strait is known for strong currents and wind-against-current chop, worst during the monsoon transitions. Dry season, roughly May through September, gives better visibility but brings afternoon trade winds. Wet season, roughly November through March, brings thunderstorms and squalls that cancel both seaplanes and fast boats alike. A reasonable operating window for any future service would fall in the morning (08:00-11:00) and early afternoon (13:00-16:00), with no low-light water landings — this is a planning projection, not a published operator schedule.
Explore the rest of the Lombok-Gili seaplane guide
- Gili Trawangan seaplane landing site status
- Gili Air seaplane landing site status
- Gili Meno seaplane access options
- Mandalika seaplane and coastal access
- Batujai seaplane waterbase explained
- Seaplane operators and aircraft for Lombok routes
- Seaplane versus fast boat for the Gili crossing
- What a Lombok-Gili seaplane timetable would need
- Resort pick-ups and seaplane transfer logistics
- Weather and swell conditions for Lombok seaplane routes
Who arranges what, honestly
Juara Holding Group is an independent coordination desk, established 2015, that arranges transport and travel logistics through vetted, licensed partners in Lombok and the Gilis. It does not own or operate aircraft or vessels, and it is not affiliated with Santai Seaplane Indonesia, PT Aman Air, or any other operator named on this page. Figures on this page are dated to their source reports and are subject to change as permits, certifications, and construction timelines move.
How a route feasibility check works
- Message the desk on WhatsApp with your travel dates, party size, and whether you are asking about current boat transfer or a future seaplane possibility.
- State your route — for example, BIZAM to Gili Trawangan, or a Bali-Lombok-Gili combined itinerary — so the desk can check what is actually bookable on that date.
- Receive a same-day update on the current boat and land-transfer options, plus honest notice if any seaplane option has become commercially available since this page was last checked.
- Confirm through a licensed partner — the desk does not take payment for services it does not operate; it connects you directly with the transport provider.
Talk to the desk before you book a Lombok-Gili crossing
If you want current, verified transfer options for Lombok and the Gili Islands — or a heads-up the moment a real seaplane service launches on this corridor — contact the Juara Holding Group concierge desk on WhatsApp at (https://wa.me/6281139414563) or email bd@juaraholding.com. The desk will not sell you a seaplane seat that does not exist; it will tell you what is actually running today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a working seaplane service between Lombok and the Gili Islands right now?
No. As of mid-2026, no scheduled, publicly advertised seaplane network connects Lombok to Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, or Gili Meno. All current passenger transport on this corridor runs by boat from Bangsal Harbour or Teluk Nare, plus land transfers to and from BIZAM airport.
Where would a seaplane actually land near Gili Trawangan?
No confirmed landing site has been published. Gili Trawangan is named in the NTB-PT Aman Air memorandum of understanding, but the same report states take-off and landing permits have not been issued because the island is a conservation area. An offshore pontoon with a tender transfer is the plausible pattern, not a confirmed design.
When will the Batujai seaplane waterbase open?
No opening date has been announced. The MoU between NTB’s provincial government and PT Aman Air was reported 28 February 2026 and covers preparation of a waterbase at Bendungan Batujai, but construction status, certification, and a launch date have not been published. Any 2027 network timeline is a projection only.
Can I fly by seaplane from Lombok’s airport straight to a Gili island today?
No. BIZAM, Lombok’s international airport, is a certified land airport with no operating amphibious link to the Gili Islands. Getting from BIZAM to any Gili today means a road transfer to Bangsal or Teluk Nare followed by a public or private boat crossing.
Would a seaplane be faster than the current fast boat to the Gilis?
Likely, based on typical seaplane flight times versus the current 10-40 minute boat crossings from Bangsal and Teluk Nare, but no seaplane schedule or fare exists to compare against, and none should be assumed. Weather cancellations would apply to both seaplanes and boats, especially in the November-March wet season.