Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA News) - The management of Bali`s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport has received requests to accommodate 477 additional flights from national airlines owing to high demand during the peak season of Christmas and New Year.

"For the year-end, Bali has always been the main destination for local and international tourists," the airport`s General Manager Yanus Suprayogi stated after opening the Christmas and New Year service post at the Domestic Airport Terminal in Kuta on Monday.

According to Suprayogi, five national airlines have requested to accommodate these flights to add some 80 thousand seats.

The five airlines are Citilink, Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, Nam Air, and Sriwijaya Air, with the routes mostly connecting Bali and Surabaya, Jakarta, Makassar, Labuan Bajo, Waingapu, Lombok, and Maumere.

"Most flights will be added on routes to and from Surabaya, with 182 flights; followed by Lombok, with 112 flights; Jakarta, with 81 flights; and the rest of the flights will connect the eastern part of Indonesia," Suprayogi remarked.

As compared to the previous year, the requests to operate additional flights have reduced by 22 percent, which had reached 613 flights and 106 thousand seats.

He has forecast that the decrease in the number of flights was due to the activities of Mount Agung that remains active, thereby affecting the tourism sector.

The same is applicable for international trips this year, as there are no additional requests to operate flights on international routes by local and international airlines.

"We hope that the requests for additional flights on international routes would be received later," he noted.

On the occasion, the airport`s management has also set up a service post in cooperation with the Air Force, Police, Airport`s Authority, Meteorological Climatology and Geophysics Department, AirNav, Airlines, and various related institutions to better serve the customers during the peak season.

Reported by Dewa Wiguna
(Uu.Ian/KR-MBR/INE)
(T.KR-MBR/B/KR-BSR/O001)

Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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