Garuda lays on extra flights for travel boom

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's state-owned airline, Garuda Indonesia, will operate extra flights in anticipation of the expected travel boom ahead of and after the upcoming Christmas, New Year and Idul Fitri holidays.

Garuda's spokesman Pujobroto said that the company planned to offer 38 additional flights, a total of 3,968 seats, from Dec. 18, 1998 to Jan. 3, 1999, and from Jan. 15 to Jan. 24.

Pujobroto said that the extra flights will be provided for service to and from Jakarta, Solo, Yogyakarta, Surabaya and Denpasar.

"These destinations were given extra flights after taking into account the local representatives' assessments of the market trend in the areas," he said in a statement.

He added that other routes would be served by Garuda's regular flights during the holiday period.

The additional services during the Dec. 18 to Jan. 3 Christmas and New Year holidays will include 20 flights with a total of 2,216 seats on the Jakarta-Solo and Denpasar-Surabaya routes.

The additional services during the Idul Fitri festivities will include 18 flights with a total of 1,752 seats on the Jakarta- Yogyakarta (between Jan. 15 and Jan. 24), Denpasar-Surabaya (between Jan. 16 and Jan. 24) and Jakarta-Solo (between Jan. 17 and Jan. 24) routes.

Pujobroto admitted that the number of additional flights were much lower than provided during last year's festivities, due to an expectation of fewer travelers as a result of the current economic crisis.

"But we have anticipated the increasing demand during the three holidays, despite the decline in people's purchasing power," he said.

Pujobroto said that Garuda would not increase its tariffs during the holidays period.

To assist its customers, Garuda would also provide a 24-hour complimentary telephone reservation service.

Meanwhile, Pujobroto said that because Garuda flights do not pass over Iraqi airspace, Garuda would continue to serve its European and Middle Eastern routes as scheduled, despite the current U.S-led air strikes on Iraq.

Pujobroto said that Garuda's flights to Europe pass over Indian, Pakistani, Irani and Turkey airspace, while its flights to the Middle East pass over Indian, Omani, United Arab Emirates, Bahraini and Saudi Arabian airspace.

Garuda currently serves three European destinations -- Amsterdam, Frankfurt and London -- and three Middle Eastern destinations --Jeddah, Dhahran and Riyadh. (gis)