Qantas rushes Australians home
AAP
Qantas rushes Australians home
September 9, 2004 - 9:09PM
Qantas has called in bigger aircraft to help bring Australians home from Indonesia in the wake of the deadly bomb blast outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta.
Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon said flights to Indonesia would continue to operate as normal.
But the airline had increased capacity on its return flights.
"Qantas had increased capacity on its return Sydney-Jakarta service tomorrow, replacing a 767-300 aircraft with a 747-400 aircraft to provide an additional 130 seats in case of increased demand," Mr Dixon said in a statement.
"We will monitor the situation and we have the flexibility to add more capacity if it is required."
The airline would refund fares and waive penalty fees for customers wanting to cancel or change their travel plans to or from Jakarta, he said.
Travellers concerned about security in Indonesia should contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) on 02 6261 3305 or 1300 555135 (local call cost within Australia).
A suspected suicide bomber killed at least eight people and injured more than 100 in the massive bomb blast outside the embassy.
No Australians were injured but the bomb left a three-metre deep crater in the road, destroyed cars and seriously damaged the heavily-fortified embassy building.
© 2004 AAP
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