Negotiations With The Arab Government, Garuda Indonesia Asks To Be Allowed To Make The Last Hajj Flight Landing June 23

JAKARTA - The management of PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) is negotiating with the Government of Saudi Arabia to allow the final Hajj flight landing on June 23, 2023.

Garuda Indonesia President Director Irfan Setiaputra said his team was already in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to discuss flight landing opportunities on June 23, 2023.

"The final report is the last day (flight landing) on June 22. But we are trying to obtain permission to land on June 23," he told reporters, Tuesday, June 13.

Irfan explained that the Government of Saudi Arabia will limit flights and provide a final landing schedule as it approaches Arafah.

"This Hajj is approaching Arafah and usually they will limit and provide a final landing schedule," he explained.

Furthermore, Irfan explained, the flight was intended for dozens of DPR members for ONH Plus.

Therefore, Irfan hopes that this report can be an illustration for DPR members regarding the situation of hajj flights at the last moment.

"Hopefully we can provide seats, especially business classes according to the expectations of ladies and gentlemen in the DPR. Yesterday we were contacted by the Secretary General of the DPR to ensure that there are an additional 80 members of the DPR as soon as possible to go for Hajj," he said.

Irfan revealed that Garuda Indonesia did get a quota to carry 104,000 prospective pilgrims for regular flights and 8,000 prospective pilgrims for additional flights.

Irfan said, in general, the Hajj flight service went smoothly, although it denied that there were one or two cases that delayed flights. One of them is the plane that was damaged, and had to be repaired.

Irfan said that his party had also provided facilities for prospective pilgrims who were affected by the flight delays.

"We have already told the reason. For example, in the case in Banjarmasin, it is impossible for us to let them in the Hajj dormitory because the next batch will come, so we move some to the hotel at Garuda's expense," he explained.