The Ministry of Religious Affairs and state-owned airline company, Garuda Indonesia, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) regarding air transportation for regular Indonesian Hajj pilgrims on 2024 AD/1445 H.
The MoU was inked by the Ministry’s Director General of Hajj and Umrah Organizations, Hilman Latief, and President Director of Garuda Indonesia, Irfan Setiaputra, in Jakarta on Thursday (February 22).
“With this MoU signing, we hope Garuda Indonesia can provide the best service for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims,” Latief noted in a statement from his office on Friday.
Based on the departing pilgrims’ data in the Integrated Hajj Information and Computerization System (Siskohat), a third of the number of pilgrims departing for the Holy Land still comprised those aged over 65 years, he stated.
Hence, the government is still carrying out the Elderly Friendly Hajj program for this year’s Hajj pilgrimage, he noted.
“The airline is concerned about elderly Hajj pilgrims and is providing priority service, including for disabled pilgrims,” Latief added.
To this end, he urged Garuda Indonesia to disseminate information and provide innovative flight services for Hajj pilgrims.
“Please be prepared and immediately convey what service innovations the airline will provide, so that they can be synchronized with the Elderly Friendly Hajj program,” Latief noted.
Meanwhile, Setiaputra said that his side would prepare optimal Hajj flight services.
“Garuda Indonesia is committed to aviation safety, service excellence, and several additional services that we provide to Indonesian Hajj pilgrims,” he remarked.
Several additional services prepared by Garuda Indonesia this year include increasing the number of wheelchairs and preparing more qualified number of officers.
“We will also prepare additional officers to load and unload pilgrims’ luggage in the cabin,” he stated.
Setiaputra remarked that additional officers had been readied, especially during return flights for the Makassar Embarkation when there is usually large quantity of luggage.
For the 1445 H/2024 AD Hajj season, Garuda Indonesia will carry 109,072 passengers comprising pilgrims and Hajj officers.
This figure will be divided into 294 groups from nine embarkation locations, namely Aceh, Medan, Padang, Jakarta, Solo, Banjarmasin, Balikpapan, Makassar, and Lombok.
Garuda Indonesia will deploy 14 planes for Hajj service this year, comprising Boeing 777-400, Boeing 747-400, and Airbus A330-300 aircraft, Setiaputra remarked.
