Indonesia Urges 70,000 Pilgrims to Fly Direct — SkimNews
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- Indonesia urged Indonesian umrah pilgrims to prioritise direct flights to Saudi Arabia over transit routes through Singapore and Malaysia, citing conflict-related safety and the potential to strengthen the country’s aviation industry.
- Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, Indonesia’s Deputy Haj and Umrah Minister, said about 70,000 pilgrims use those transit routes and that shifting them to Lion Air and Garuda Indonesia could help Indonesia’s economy.
- The ministry is working with airlines and Angkasa Pura to improve haj and umrah services and is separately helping travel operators resolve refund problems.
- Saudi Arabia’s umrah activities remained unaffected, according to Dahnil, despite his stated concern about risks amid the escalating Middle East conflict.
Why it matters: About 70,000 pilgrims use the transit routes Indonesia wants them to avoid. Dahnil presented a shift to Lion Air and Garuda Indonesia as an economic benefit for Indonesia, while separate ministry work on service quality and refunds addresses practical problems for travel operators.
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