Fewer passengers leave city by plane

Fewer passengers leave city by plane

JAKARTA (JP): The outflow of city residents via airlines at
the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport as of Tuesday, seven
days ahead of the Idul Fitri celebration, has fallen by 40
percent from last year's number, an official said on Wednesday.

Without giving details, Miskul Firdaus, president of state-
owned airport management company PT Angkasa Pura II, attributed
the sharp drop to hardship caused by the prolonged economic
crisis.

Despite the drop in the number of passengers, Miskul said that
his company still intensified its cooperation with the airlines.

"Close cooperation is vital to anticipate any sudden surge in
the number of passengers," he said.

Besides traveling by plane, thousands of holidaymakers have
left the city for their home towns via bus terminals, harbors and
railway stations in the annual exodus. (41/ylt)