Outbound flights fully booked

Outbound flights fully booked

JAKARTA (JP): Bookings for outbound flights registered a
dramatic rise yesterday as foreigners and frightened locals fled
the tumultuous city.

The director of Iwata Nusantara Tours and Travel, Meity Robot,
said yesterday computer data showed that all yesterday's flights
abroad were fully booked.

"The flights are all incredibly packed," Robot told The
Jakarta Post, adding that the rush had begun since Wednesday.

Many of the passengers were expatriates and tourists who are
fleeing the country to avoid the massive social unrest across the
city, she said.

Widespread riots have turned the capital upside down since
Wednesday, following the deaths of four university students shot
during Tuesday's antigovernment protest.

Australia's Qantas Airways confirmed its flights were full
yesterday.

"Rush to book tickets have started since Wednesday, but the
flights got really full today," Fonny Tedjakusumana told the
Post.

Fonny, who did not go to the office yesterday because of the
mayhem, said all flights were booked until Saturday.

Qantas dismissed its employees early yesterday and authorized
travel agents to issue its tickets to meet the rising demand, she
said.

Singapore Airlines said its flights had been full since
Wednesday.

"It hasn't been that full normally because of the monetary
crisis, but yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon it jumped sharply,"
the airline's public relations manager Susie Charma was quoted by
Antara as saying.

Charma said all business, executive and economy class seats
were booked for today as well.

British Airways said its flight was also full yesterday and
all flights were booked until Saturday.

Foreign countries have issued warnings to their citizens
residing in Indonesia.

The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta said it had approved the departure
of dependents of embassy staff, while the U.S. government had
warned its citizens against nonessential travel to Indonesia.

Japanese companies including electronics firm Hitachi have
asked family members of their employees in Indonesia to evacuate
from the country and have barred employees from making business
trips here, Reuters reported.

Several Western embassies have advised their nationals to
avoid travel to Indonesia.

The Australian Embassy has not ordered its citizens to depart
from the city, but encouraged them to stay clear of areas where
groups assemble and to register at the embassy. (das)