Airline reports fewer Indonesian passengers

Airline reports fewer Indonesian passengers

JAKARTA (JP): The United Arab Emirates' carrier, Emirates, has
seen fewer passengers on its Indonesian service due to the
currency upheaval in the Asian region.

The company manager in Indonesia, John Rotikan, said here
yesterday that the number of passengers flying the Jakarta-Dubai
via Singapore route dropped 20 percent in October and November.

"It will continue next month," he said.

The monetary crisis, which has reduced the value of the rupiah
against the U.S. dollar by over 35 percent since early July, has
affected various sectors, including the travel and tourist
industry.

"Indonesians previously could travel overseas with some Rp 3
million which included airport tax, an air ticket, outbound tax
and taxi fares. But now they need to spend at least Rp 4.5
million for the same services."

Rotikan said the situation in the travel and tourist sector
would stabilize after the March general session of the People's
Consultative Assembly, which will elect new president and vice
president.

Emirates operates four flights a week between Dubai and
Jakarta with its fleet of Boeing B777s and Airbus A300s.

Rotikan said Emirates' Indonesian service reached 70 percent
of passenger capacity in 1996.

The airline started operating in October 1985 and last year it
carried three million passengers and 159,000 tons of cargo.

It operates 22 aircraft which service 43 destinations,
excluding the United States. The company earned 3.17 billion
dirham (US$880.5 million) in revenue last year.

To improve its service, Emirates launched new uniforms for its
crew which were designed by eminent couturier Paco Rabanne. (icn)