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Extra flights to ferry tourists home
SYDNEY, Australia -- Airline Qantas is sending extra flights to the Indonesian island of Bali to help bring back Australian holiday makers after Saturday's explosions. Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon said Sunday the extra flights would be able to bring more than 1,000 people back to Australia. Three extra flights will leave over the next 24 hours, the first departing Sydney at 5 p.m. Sunday local time, followed by another at 1 a.m. and 9.am. on Monday. The Boeing 747 and two Boeing 767s will not be taking any passengers to Bali, other than extra Qantas staff to assist with the processing of those wanting to leave, a Qantas medical team, medical vounteers and dozens of media. Dixon said there was a "clamor" of people wanting to leave, and that even more flights would be considered if required. "We will be able to move out well over 1,000 people," Dixon told media. The special flights are in addition to the 13 return Qantas services that operate directly to Denpasar each week from Australia. Dixon said Qantas was continuing to work closely with the relevant Australian and Indonesian Government authorities and would put on additional aircraft for Bali services if they were required. Bali is an extremely popular tourist destinations with Australians because of its closeness and the low valued of the Indonesian rupiah compared with the Australian dollar. Calm callDixon said Qantas would be primarily concentrating on flying its own customers out of Bali but would consider taking out other nationalities in special circumstances. Qantas customers with a return ticket to Australia will be able to travel on the special additional services at no extra cost. Other flights to Bali from Australia are continuing as normal, but the government has warned Australians to defer all travel to the island until further notice. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advises Australians to stay in their hotels, avoid public places and call home and advise families of their wellbeing. It also advises people to stay calm while authorities assess the situation. The Australian embassy in Jakarta are flying extra staff to the Australian consulate in Denpasar to assist with the tragedy. The Australian consulate is also responsible for assisting Canadians in Bali as well.
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