JAKARTA, Dec. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- State-run airliner Garuda Indonesia plans to increase flights to Aceh to anticipate an influx of air passengers who will commemorate the first anniversary of the Dec. 26 tsunami, an executive said Friday.

    "We are planning to increase flights to Aceh," Garuda's Aceh branch manager Sukamdo was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying.

    Hundreds of domestic and foreign guests are expected to attend the event.

    "More than 400 domestic and foreign journalists have confirmed a plan to visit Aceh on Dec. 25 and 26. The step to increase flight frequencies is taken as part of Garuda's effort to anticipate a possible influx of air passengers to Aceh," he said.

    Currently, three Garuda planes fly from Jakarta to Aceh a day.

    Sukamdo said Garuda has also decided to provide a 50 percent discount to the Acehnese people who are domiciled outside Aceh and plan to return to their home town.

    The discount is valid for 22 days starting Dec. 16, he said. Enditem