AirAsia flight QZ8501: Travellers from Surabaya to S'pore mostly maids, tourists, businessmen

Family members of passengers on board AirAsia flight QZ 8501 look at a passenger list inside a crisis centre at Juanda Airport in Surabaya, East Java on Dec 28, 2014 in this photo taken by Antara Foto. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Family members of passengers on board AirAsia flight QZ 8501 look at a passenger list inside a crisis centre at Juanda Airport in Surabaya, East Java on Dec 28, 2014 in this photo taken by Antara Foto. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

SINGAPORE - Those who travel from Surabaya to Singapore include maids, businessmen and tourists.

Ms Alicia Seah, head of marketing and communications at Dynasty Travel, said it is common for maids coming to work in Singapore to travel from Surabaya airport, as it is nearest to several poor areas where the maids typically live. Other than maids, Indonesian tourists may also travel from the airport.

She added that sometimes, businessmen looking for opportunities may travel to and from Surabaya. Another group of people who may travel from Surabaya Airport are those who are transiting there, she said.

Surabaya is the second largest city in Indonesia after Jakarta.

An AirAsia Indonesia flight on its way from Surabaya to Singapore went missing on Dec 28. There are 155 passengers on board, and the majority are Indonesians.

Of the 162 crew and passengers, there are 155 Indonesians, one Singaporean, one Malaysian, one French, one British and three South Koreans. The Singaporean is a two-year-old girl who is travelling with her father, a British national.

One of the passengers on board the flight QZ8501 is Nico Giovanni, 18, who holds a Singapore Ministry of Education scholarship, had studied at Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) and recently completed his first year at St Andrew's Junior College. He is believed to be travelling with his parents and brother.

jalmsab@sph.com.sg

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