Can You Fly Kites or Sky Lanterns Near Bali Airport?

No, not if you are within 5 nautical miles (about 9 km) of I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport. Bali Provincial Regulation (Perda) No. 9 of 2000 on the ban on flying kites and similar games at and around Ngurah Rai Airport prohibits kites in that zone at any height. Outside 9 km there are still height limits out to 54 km, which covers almost all of southern and central Bali. Sky lanterns are not named in the Perda, but that does not make them safe to release. Everything below was checked in October 2026.

What exactly does Perda 9/2000 allow?

Article 2 of the regulation, as quoted by the Bali provincial government in an official statement carried by Antara Bali on 22 July 2024:

• 0-9 km (0-5 nautical miles) from the airport: no kites at all.
• 9-18 km (5-10 nautical miles): banned if the kite flies higher than 100 metres (300 feet).
• 18-54 km (10-30 nautical miles): banned above 300 metres (1,000 feet).

The penalty is in Article 8(1): up to three months' detention or a fine of up to Rp5,000,000.

Which tourist areas fall inside the 9 km radius?

The airport sits in Tuban, so Kuta, Tuban, Kedonganan and Jimbaran are clearly inside. Legian, Seminyak and Tanjung Benoa are also under 9 km in a straight line, while Nusa Dua sits around the 9 km line (our estimate from the map, not an official zone map). In practice, flying a small kite on Kuta or Jimbaran beach at sunset is exactly what the Perda prohibits, even though plenty of people do it. Sanur, Canggu and Uluwatu fall roughly in the 9-18 km zone with its 100 m limit, and Ubud (about 29 km away) is in the 300 m zone.

Why is this old rule being enforced again?

On 19 July 2024, a Whitesky Aviation sightseeing helicopter, registration PK-WSP, crashed at Suluban, Pecatu, with kite string wrapped around its rotor. The head of the Region IV Airport Authority Office told a meeting with the provincial government (Antara, 24 July 2024) that the site lies in the 100 m zone, while the helicopter spotted the kite at roughly 300 m. He stressed that a kite pushed too high by the wind is still a violation, and that height is measured vertically even if the person holding the string stands outside the zone. He also pointed out that Mertasari Beach in Sanur, a regular venue for kite contests, lies under the flight path.

Does the national Aviation Law apply too?

Yes. Article 210 of Law No. 1 of 2009 on Aviation bans activities in the Flight Operations Safety Area (KKOP) that could endanger aircraft without permission from the airport authority. Article 421(2) sets a maximum of three years in prison and/or a fine of up to Rp1 billion. The Ministry of Transportation cited this article again in July 2025 after kites disrupted flights at Soekarno-Hatta. These are maximum penalties; the actual sentence is for a court to decide.

What about sky lanterns?

When we checked in October 2026, we found no Bali regulation or governor's decree that specifically mentions sky lanterns. Still, a lantern is an uncontrolled flying object carrying a flame. Near the airport it counts as an "activity that could endanger flights" under Article 210, and since 2020 the Ministry of Transportation has urged people not to release kites, lasers or balloons in the KKOP without a permit. Balloons themselves are covered by Ministry of Transportation Regulation PM 40 of 2018. Aviation aside, a lantern landing on a thatched roof, a dry field or a temple compound can start a fire, especially in the dry season. For a wedding or New Year's Eve, ask the hotel or venue first, or use hanging lanterns that stay tethered.

Can you still watch or join a kite festival?

Yes. Bali's kite season usually runs June to August, and the giant traditional kite festivals, such as the one at Padang Galak in Sanur, are open to spectators. See our piece on the Bali Kite Festival at Padang Galak for what to expect. What visitors should avoid is buying a roadside kite and flying it themselves on a beach near the airport.

What about drones and fireworks?

Both have separate rules. Drones are tightly restricted in the KKOP and need permits in many locations; details are in Bali drone rules 2026. For New Year fireworks, read can you set off fireworks in Bali.

One practical tip: if your kids want to fly a kite on holiday, head outside southern Bali, for example to a beach in Tabanan or Buleleng, use a small kite on a short line, and keep an eye out for overhead power cables.