AIRLINE COMPANIES INCREASE FLIGHTS A WEEK BEFORE HOLIDAYS

Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan, Sept 13 (ANTARA) - A week ahead of the Ied Fitr holiday, several airline companies in Banjarmasin would increase their flights to cope with an increase in the number of passengers.

A travel agent Fadli Afo said that the airline companies had already been fully booked in a week before the holiday.

The increase in the flights is aimed at coping with the substantial increase in the number of passengers, especially of Sriwijaya Air, Lion Air and Mandala Air, Fadli said.

Sriwijaya Air would start increasing their flights on August 15 to September 20, 2009, Lion Air starts on Sept 16, and Mandala Air did not specify any particular date.

Meanwhile, the most popular destination from Banjarmasin is Surabaya, where all the seats had been reserved.

The Syamsudin Noor Airport staff would increase the comfort and security of the passengers.

The airport's manager, Maherunusa, said that he would increase the monitoring of the passengers, their safety and comfort.

Based on the Air Transportation Director General's instruction, the airport also monitors cargo, not only the passengers.
For safety reasons, the airport would also check the plane's manifest.