Labuan Bajo now has direct international service, which is useful news for anyone who used to assume the trip had to pass through Bali or Jakarta whether they liked it or not. That no longer applies quite so neatly.
Who This Is For
Travellers planning an international arrival into Labuan Bajo and wanting to know what routes actually exist, rather than what people vaguely remember hearing about six months ago.
The Current Picture
Labuan Bajo is no longer purely a domestic gateway. Direct international service now links it with Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, which is a genuinely meaningful shift for the destination.
That said, this is still a small international gateway rather than a full network hub. Think useful, not limitless.
Singapore
Scoot currently operates the Singapore route, which is the cleaner option for travellers coming through Changi or using Singapore as their regional connection point.
Kuala Lumpur
AirAsia opened the Kuala Lumpur route, giving Labuan Bajo a second direct international link and making Malaysia a much more practical gateway into Flores than it used to be.
Do You Still Need Bali?
Sometimes yes, often no. Bali remains the easiest domestic transfer point for many travellers because the onward flight network into Labuan Bajo is much broader. But if one of the direct international routes works for your starting point, it can save a lot of time and general airport fatigue.
The Practical Take
If you can get in directly from Singapore or Kuala Lumpur without contorting the rest of your trip, do it. If not, Bali is still the most useful backup plan and will remain that way for plenty of travellers.