Parties demand cheap flights

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Several executives at airline companies in North Sumatra province revealed on Sunday that, as the election campaign is underway, demands are on the rise from the political parties for discounted flights.

The party leaders argued for the discounted prices, saying they had to visit their supporters often during the election campaign, said Nasrizal, a general manager for Garuda Indonesia Airways' Medan branch.

He said that Garuda had accepted some proposals from the political parties for the discounted flights.

The general manager of Adam Air, Sunaryanto, said that his company would not give discounted prices unless the party leaders bought tickets in large groups.

Domestic flight seat capacity has increased to 80 percent during the election campaign, which started on Thursday, compared to 70 percent on average before the campaign. -- JP