More Flights: Aero Dili Eyes Chinese and Australian Expansion

By Andrew Curran.

Aero Dili has signalled that it will launch flights to new destinations this month. The two aircraft airline from Timor-Leste posted on Facebook on October 1 that it was a “new month" with “new destinations.”

This follows Aero Dili and the Timor-Leste Government holding talks with Chinese Government officials in September about expanding direct air links between the two countries.

The owner and CEO of Aero Dili, Lourenco de Oliveira, also recently told Dili-based journalists that flights to Australia, specifically Melbourne (MEL) and Darwin (DRW) would start in December. However, he has floated plans for these flights before and they did not eventuate.

Local news outlets report that de Oliveira and Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos Horta met with a Chinese delegation on September 22 to discuss the new flights, mostly likely between Dili (DIL) and Fuzhou (FOC) in China’s Fujian Province.

This follows Aero Dili starting a weekly round trip between Dili and Xiamen (XMN) last year, which reportedly now operates with decent passenger loads.

China is using commercial aviation to establish ties with developing countries in the region, especially developing countries like Timor Leste that are poorly serviced by international airlines. Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu are also notable local examples.

Aero South Pacific does not suggest any party is directly incentivising the privately-owned Aero Dili to operate its flights to China. However, the Chinese Government can encourage its state-owned tour companies in cities such as Xiamen and Fuzhou to promote packages to Dili, which has a certain ramshackle charm. Relatively full aircraft ensure Aero Dili makes a decent commercial return. Hotel and tour operators in Dili also make a dollar and Timor-Leste broadly benefits from the economic stimulus that planeloads of Chinese tourists bring. It’s a win for the Timor-Leste Government – at least until China wants something in return.

Horta reportedly views the Timor-Leste – China air links as a strategic initiative that will strengthen bi-lateral ties and economic co-operation. He argues that reliable air links will attract investment, tourists, and improve regional connectivity.

Aero Dili operates one A320-200 and one A319-100. They currently run scheduled services from Dili to Denpasar (DPS), Singapore (SIN), Oecussi (OEC) and Xiamen.

Dili’s Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport is served by just four other passenger airlines. Qantas and Airnorth fly to Dili from Darwin (DRW), Batik Air flies in from Kuala Lumpur (KUL), and Citilink competes with Aero Dili on the Denpasar – Dili city pair.

AirAsia was recently examining starting flights to Dili, much to de Oliveira’s disquiet, but those plans appear to have come to nought.

Meanwhile, Aero Dili’s on-again off-again plans to fly to Australia are on-again. The airline has previously filed tentative schedules to start flights to Melbourne and Darwin, but they never happened.

de Oliveira now says twice weekly flights will start in December 2025 after securing permission from Australia authorities. Aero South Pacific has contacted Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority for confirmation.

de Oliveira said the existing aircraft operated to China overnight, allowing them to fly to either Australian port during the day, potentially a Dili – Melbourne – Dili -Singapore – Dili rotation or a Dili – Darwin – Dili – Xiamen (or Fuzhou) – Dili rotation.

Photo: Aero Dili.