Garuda raises capacity to Aceh

Garuda raises capacity to Aceh

JAKARTA (JP): Garuda Indonesia Airways has expanded the
capacity of its Jakarta-Banda Aceh service via Medan with the
operation of 142-seat capacity Boeing 737-400 planes to replace
the smaller version Boeing 737-500.

M. Anshori, head of the Garuda office in the Aceh capital,
said on Friday that demand for air travel from the province had
increased due to the disruption of most bus services from Banda
Aceh to Medan in North Sumatra.

Anshori told Antara that the recent burning of six buses that
plied the Banda Aceh-Medan route had prompted travelers to shift
to air services.

He added that Garuda's daily flight from Banda Aceh had of
late been overbooked by up to 15 seats, as most travelers,
frightened by sporadic armed clashes between local separatists
and troops, had opted for Garuda flights.

For now, he added, the larger-capacity plane would be able to
meet the demand. (02)