Air Paradise International will operate twice-weekly direct services between Brisbane and Bali from December 2.The new flights mean the Bali-based airline will serve all Australian mainland state capitals.

The flights will depart Brisbane at 10am and arrive in Bali at 1.10pm. Return flights will depart Denpasar at 12.05am and arrive in Brisbane at 8.40am.

The carrier, which launched operations to Australia in February, 2003, will operate an all-economy-class (226-seat) Airbus A310-300.

API has released a series of discounted Bali holiday packages ex Brisbane starting at $699pp plus taxes and including three nights? accommodation.

The deals are for departures up to and including December 16, 2004, and also between January 17 and March 24, 2005, with children aged under 16 years flying for $299pp return plus taxes.

API is also offering a bonus for every passenger of $140 in value-added extras: a Bounty Island day cruise or dinner cruise and a 30-minute head or foot reflexology massage at Chi at the Villas in Seminyak, Bali.

API general manager Australia Gary Hilt said: "Based on the current demand that we?re experiencing from Australian ports, we see Brisbane as the logical step in our expansion plans and although initially operating twice weekly from Brisbane, we would envisage additional services from Brisbane should there prove sufficient demand."

API also operates to Bali from Seoul, Korea, and will add a three-times-weekly service from Denpasar to Osaka, Japan in December.