"There are a total of 34 flights, and Insya Allah, we will add 36, and maximize them all tomorrow. This is because recent flights to Padang have been filled 100 percent (of their capacity)," Garuda Indonesia president director Irfan Setiaputra told reporters in Tangerang on Thursday.
The extra flights are meant to anticipate a surge in passengers, he said pointing to a significant hike in prospective passengers flying to Surabaya, Makassar, and Medan.
"However, what is currently a popular destination during the Eid homecoming is the island of Bali or Denpasar," he said.
The available number of aircraft seats has reached 100 percent in the last few days, he informed. Hence, the airline will continue to optimize the capacity and operation of aircraft.
"We must add more when we have the possibility of adding extra flights," he said.
Setiaputra further said he expected prospective passengers to continue to implement health protocols strictly and get the booster shots to make their trip cozy and smooth.
Related news: Soekarno-Hatta Airport receives request to approve 720 extra flights
"We strongly advise all passengers to make sure they are healthy before flying," he added.
Meanwhile, on the fourth day leading to Eid, Garuda Indonesia and Citilink airlines recorded 95,492 passengers.
"The number of passengers of Garuda and Citilink is expected to peak tomorrow, but we have a limitation in terms of the number of aircraft," Setiaputra said.
According to him, the peak of return flow will occur on May 7–8, therefore, the airline will continue to anticipate passenger volumes.
Related news: 12,000 daily passengers expected at Yogyakarta airport during exodus
Translator: Azmi M, Kenzu T
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
