Middle East Conflict Impacts, Carter Umrah Flights from Minangkabau Airport Temporarily Suspended

PADANG PARIAMAN - Charter flights for umrah pilgrims from Minangkabau International Airport to Saudi Arabia have been temporarily suspended due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

General Manager of Angkasa Pura Indonesia Minangkabau International Airport Branch Office, Dony Subardono, said the temporary suspension of charter flights to Umrah would take effect from March 3 to 18.

"Since March 3 to March 18, we have not operated for chartered planes," said Dony in Padang Pariaman Regency, Antara, Thursday, March 12.

However, the airport is still serving the return of West Sumatra Umrah pilgrims who are currently in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Dony said that Minangkabau International Airport had facilitated the return of umrah pilgrims on March 5 and 8, 2026.

On the arrival flight on March 8, the pilgrims who arrived at the airport not only came from West Sumatra, but also from a number of other areas such as Batam, Riau Islands, and Central Java.

"Upon arrival at BIM, the pilgrims then continued their flight to their respective home areas," he said.

He also confirmed that on March 23, 2026, there were plans for umrah pilgrims to depart from the Minangkabau International Airport to the Holy Land.

However, the certainty of departure is still waiting for the development of the security situation in the Middle East region.

"For the departure plan, we will first see the development of the situation on March 18," said Dony.

According to him, the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East has a direct impact on international flight operations, especially flights for Umrah pilgrims from Ranah Minang.

Meanwhile, the Acting Head of the West Sumatra Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Regional Office, M. Rifki, emphasized that the government guarantees the safety of umrah pilgrims who are still in Saudi Arabia.

He explained that the Indonesian government has a representative of the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Jeddah who is tasked with providing protection to pilgrims if there are obstacles during their stay in the country.