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)