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)