JAKARTA: Deputy Haj and Umrah Minister Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak has urged Indonesian umrah pilgrims to prioritise direct flights to Saudi Arabia over transit routes through Singapore and Malaysia.
Dahnil cited the potential to strengthen the country’s aviation industry.
The Deputy Minister said the other reason was to reduce risks amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East, but stressed that umrah activities in Saudi Arabia remained unaffected.
“We have gathered pilgrims and umrah travel operator (PPIU) associations to bring this to the attention of travel businesses.
“We have asked the associations not to choose transit flights through Malaysia or Singapore for the time being,” he said.
“Direct flights to Jeddah or Medina are safer, so we recommend that option.”
According to Dahnil, around 70,000 Indonesian umrah pilgrims use transit routes through Malaysia and Singapore, representing a potential source of demand for Indonesian airlines if more travellers are directed towards domestic carriers.
“If those pilgrims using transit flights through Malaysia and Singapore were redirected to (our) national airlines, it would also help our national economy.
“We must support our two national airlines, Lion Air and Garuda Indonesia,” he said.
However, Dahnil said domestic carriers also needed to improve their services and offer competitive fares to attract passengers and strengthen their position in international markets.
To address service concerns, the ministry also brought together executives from Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air and airport operator Angkasa Pura to discuss umrah flight services, including improvements at the airport’s haj and umrah terminal.
Dahnil also called for better services at Terminal 2, which handles haj and umrah flights, to make pilgrims’ journeys more comfortable and orderly.
Separately, the ministry is offering assistance to umrah travel operators facing difficulties obtaining refunds. — The Jakarta Post/ANN
