Airport records surge in departures

Airport records surge in departures

TANGERANG (JP): The departure gates of Soekarno-Hatta
International Airport were crowded with people leaving the
country on Friday, as fears of rioting during the campaign period
rose to new heights.

At least 2,000 passengers left for holidays in Malaysia,
Singapore and Hong Kong.

"All scheduled flights were fully booked. Some people
canceled their tickets, but they were quickly snapped up by
others," Erry Handoko, an official at the Terminal II departure
gate, said.

Most passengers leaving the country were Indonesians of
Chinese descent.

Ani Suswoyo, another official, said all tickets for Hong Kong,
Singapore and Australia were fully booked two weeks ago.

"Those leaving the country were mostly going on holiday," Ani
said.

An employee of the nearby Sheraton Bandara Hotel said that
almost 50 percent of its rooms were occupied.

Security around the airport has been tightened in anticipation
of unrest. (emf/41)