TRAVEL AGENTS ASK THEIR MONEY BACK FROM BATAVIA AIR

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Feb 1 (ANTARA) - Travel agents across the country are calling for the refunding of their deposit money they have transferred to the account of Batavia Air following the closure of the airlines by a Jakarta commercial court on Wednesday.         The travel agents made the appeal through their associations such as the Indonesian Airline Ticketing Association (Astindo) and the Indonesian Tour and Travel Association (Asita).          According to Astindo, travel agents are required to deposit an amount of funds in the account of airlines before they could provide reservation services for would-be passengers. The funds are not part of the airlines' assets.          Therefore, Astindo  urged Batavia Air, following its closure, to refund the money that the travel agents have deposited with the bankrupt airlines.          "Travel agents called on Batavia Air to refund the deposit they have placed at Batavia Air," Astindo chairwoman Elly Hutabarat said on Thursday.          The same hope was also raised by the Indonesian Tour and Travel Association (Asita). "We ask Batavia Air to account for losses suffered by travel agents and consumers in the regions," Asita chairman for West Kalimatnan, Hefni AS said meanwhile.