Gili Air is the closest than other two islands (Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno) to Lombok Island, and the one with a well developed local community. Known as the social backpacker island. This island is known as the “alternative” party Gili. With a slightly more upmarket, older and mellower crowd than Gili Trawangan.
Gili Air is different from Gili Trawangan, as well as Gili Meno, is the surprising personality of Gili Air’s indigenous Sasak population. Their characteristically brusque yet completely charming and good-humored island attitude. And it’s a unique touch that you’ll only find in this tiny island.
From Bali to Gili Air
Fast Boat
The fastest and most popular transport. Wahana Gili Ocean fast boat goes to Gili Air, Gili Trawangan, and Lombok Island. Wahana Gili Ocean has two trips to that paradise of the island at 09:00 AM and 1:00 PM from Padangbai Harbor Bali. The trip to Gili Air takes 1.5 hours.
Very fast by fast boat. It is recommended that you place your laptop, camera, and cellphone in a waterproof bag. You have to cross through the shallow sea when going down, so wear the right footwear when you go.
Book here to Gili Air trip..
Ferry
There is an hourly public ferry service from Padang Bai to Lembar Harbour (Lombok Island), running 24 hours a day. The crossing takes 4 – 6 Hours (plus sometimes considerable waiting around for loading and unloading).
This is extremely cheap but the on-board conditions are very basic to say the least, and the journey is very slow. After arriving in Lombok it will then take another 2hr transfer to get to the Gili Islands via road and local boat from Bangsal harbour.
From Lombok to Gili Air
Public Boat
Bangsal harbor is the access to go across from the mainland of Lombok (North Lombok) to the gili islands by public boat. Try to get to Bangsal at around 09:30 AM or 10:30 AM as most boats go in the morning. The public boat office in Bangsal close at 16:30 PM. The boats leaves without time-scheduled but they departs when the passenger already enough, it’s about 40 ppl/boat.
NOTE : The Koperasi Angkutan Laut Karya Bahari (Sea Transport Co-operative) is the boat owner cartel which monopolizes transport to the Gili Islands (Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno & Gili Air). Lately many people try to avoid Bangsal due to hassles from street vendors or locals who try to make some cash from the “tourists”. 
Foreign Visitor to Gili Air
Flight
Zainuddin Abdul Madjid International Airport previously known as Lombok International Airport, is an airport on the island of Lombok in Indonesia. It is the island’s only fully operational airport. Ya, there are no airports in the Gilis. The nearest airport is on mainland Lombok.
# International Flight
International flights are available from Singapore with Silk Air and Tigerair, and from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia with AirAsia. Flying to Bali and taking a boat to the Gilis is also a viable option. Alternatively, you can fly to Bali and connect onward with a domestic flight to Lombok International Airport, 40km south of the old location at Mataram, which is a quick and cheap 25-30 minutes. The Bali–Lombok route is operated by Garuda Indonesia, Wings, Trigana Air, Trans-Nusa and IAT (Indonesian Air Transport).
# Domestic Flight
From elsewhere in Indonesia, Lombok International Airport is served by flights from Jakarta, and Surabaya provided by Garuda, Citilink, Lion Air and Merpati.
When you arrive at the airport, you can use Blue Bird and Grab Taxi to Bangsal Harbor to continue the trip to Gili Air. In 2018, A Bluebird Taxi from the Airport to Bangsal Harbor should be around 300,000 IDR when traveling via Senggigi Beach (coastal route). You can check the price of travel using Grab in the application. Please make sure to your driver, is it safe if you go down at the port entrance, there are some policies from local transportation that do not allow online transportation into the port area.