The Influx of Travelers Ignites Bali to Open Extra Flights

KOMPAS/IWAN SETIYAWAN, MONDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2009 | 2:33 PM

DENPASAR, KOMPAS.com - Bali’s Ngurah Rai international airport during the week prior to Idul Fitri (Sept 14-20) served a total of 50 extra flights carrying holiday travelers to domestic destinations. "Around 6,503 passengers made use of the extra flights to a number of airports in Indonesia," a security officer at Ngurah Rai airport, Ngurah Jaya, said on Monday.

He said the extra flights were intended to carry Idul Fitri holiday travelers and other holiday makers who failed to get seats on scheduled flights. Ngurah Jaya said the number of domestic tourists arriving in Bali from various cities in Indonesia in the past one week exceeded that of Idul Fitri holiday travelers leaving the resort island for their home villages.

He said that since seven days before Idul Fitri until Sunday, Sept 20, 2009, 51,653 passengers arrived on 422 flights at Ngurah Rai airport, while 41,767 others depart from the airport on 424 flights to various destinatins.

Ngurah Jaya said the launch of extra flights from Ngurah Rai airport was started with the increase of passengers going to their home villages for Idul Fitri holidays.

"The extra flights will also be held until the holiday makers are returning from their hometowns," Ngurah Jaya said. He said that in the 24 hours on Tuesday (5 days ahead of Idul Fitri), 57 planes carrying 5,960 passengers landed at Ngurah Rai.

Last Wednesday, a total of 56 planes carrying 5,559 passengers, and another extra flight with 50 passengers left the airport. He also said that the number of international flights, both arrivals and departures, did not change much.

In the meantime, Idul Fitri transportation coordinator for Bali Sugeng Sugianto said at least 24 wide-bodied aircraft were ready for extra flights from Ngurah Rai to various destinations in Indonesia and back. The planes with unscheduled flights belonged to a number of airline companies in Indonesia.