Bali Plans Airport–Canggu Water Taxi, Still in Design Phase

Denpasar — Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation and state-owned operator PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry are preparing a water taxi project intended to cut travel time between I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport and Canggu to around 30 minutes, but the service remains in the planning and design phase and is not yet operating.

The project is framed as part of a broader effort to ease chronic congestion on Bali’s southwest coast, where road journeys between the airport and Canggu can take one to two hours depending on traffic.

Officials and company representatives have described the initiative as a sea-transport link connecting the airport area with Canggu, offering faster travel for residents and visitors once construction and trials are completed.

What is being planned

According to statements cited in local and national media, the Ministry of Transportation is leading the development of the water taxi concept, with the Directorate General of Sea Transportation overseeing planning.

PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry has been tasked with preparing a detailed engineering design (DED) and pre-feasibility and feasibility studies as the technical basis for the route and infrastructure.

Reports describe an initial investment estimate of around IDR 1.2 trillion for the Bali water taxi project, with construction targeted to start in August 2026 and continue until July 2027, followed by operational trials.

Media coverage consistently cites an expected travel time of about 30 minutes for the airport–Canggu segment once the service is running, compared with the current one- to two-hour drive in heavy traffic.

Route and project status

Public reports describe the main planned corridor as connecting the Ngurah Rai International Airport area to Canggu, but do not yet fix an exact maritime route, pier locations or terminal integration points.

Regional officials have said the project is being studied by the central government, with DED work underway in Jakarta and further decisions pending on supporting infrastructure at ports along the proposed sea route.

As of mid-2026, the project is described as being in the technical planning and design stages, including engineering studies and permitting processes in cooperation with airport operator PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia.

Several reports suggest functional operations, possibly without fares, are targeted for 2027, but no official operating timetable, ticketing scheme or passenger tariffs have been formally announced.

What travellers should know

Coverage by travel and local news outlets emphasises that the water taxi remains a plan and construction has not yet begun, meaning visitors must continue to rely on existing road transport to reach Canggu from the airport.

Officials have highlighted the project’s aim of integrating land, sea and air transport on the island, with water taxis positioned as an alternative mode that could relieve pressure on congested road corridors once infrastructure and services are in place.

Prospective passengers should treat the 30-minute airport–Canggu figure as an estimated journey time presented by planners and company representatives, rather than a guaranteed schedule, until detailed route maps, terminal locations and operating plans are officially published.

For travel around September 2026, the available reporting indicates that no public water taxi service is yet operating between Ngurah Rai International Airport and Canggu, and that project work remains focused on studies, design and preparation.

Sources

• Dewata News
• Bali Discovery
• Detik Finance
• Gobaligo
• Investortrust
• Bali.live
• Bisnis.com
• Bali Post
• Indonesia Expat