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)