First Since The Pandemic, First Cluster Of Hajj Pilgrims Fly From Jakarta, Solo And Padang

Illustration of Garuda Indonesia Airplane (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The national airline Garuda Indonesia has started carrying out hajj flights 1443/2022, as well as being the first departure for Indonesian pilgrims to the Holy Land.

On that occasion, Garuda Indonesia transported at least 1,506 pilgrims via three flight routes, namely Jakarta–Medinah, Solo–Madinah, and Padang–Madinah.

Garuda Indonesia President Director Irfan Setiaputra said his party was committed to providing safe and comfortable flights for Indonesian pilgrims.

"Especially considering that this year's hajj trip is a (first) journey that has been awaited for more than 2 years," he said in a written statement, Saturday, June 4.

Garuda Indonesia started the hajj flight 1443/2022 by departing passengers from the Solo Embarkation at 00.30 western Indonesia time, and 05.35 western Indonesia time, which were operated by aircraft A330-900neo (GA6101 & GA6102) with a capacity of 365 passengers, and scheduled to arrive in Medina at 09.25 and 14.30 local time by making a transit first in Kualanamu, Medan.

"Hajj pilgrims from the Jakarta Embarkation are flown from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport with GA 7301 which departs at 06.05 western Indonesia time and is scheduled to arrive in Medina at 11.30 local time," he told reporters, Saturday, June 4.

Meanwhile, the congregation from the Padang Embarkation departed with flight GA3301 at 13.50 western Indonesia time and was scheduled to land in Medina at 18.10 local time.

"The two flights—from Jakarta and Padang—are served with a Boeing 777-300ER with a capacity of 393 passengers," he added.

In this year of Hajj 1443/2022, continued Irfan, Garuda Indonesia will serve 47,915 pilgrims who are divided into 128 groups and will depart from 9 (nine) embarkations - namely Banda Aceh (2,023 pilgrims), Medan (3,842 pilgrims), Padang (2,885 pilgrims), Jakarta (9,228 pilgrims), Solo (15,477 pilgrims), Banjarmasin (2,507 pilgrims), Balikpapan (2,639 pilgrims), Makassar (7,236 pilgrims), and Lombok (2,078 pilgrims).

To transport all the pilgrims, Garuda Indonesia operates 7 (seven) wide-body aircraft consisting of 4 B777-300ER aircraft, 1 A330-300 aircraft, and 2 A330-900neo aircraft.

The transport of the congregation itself will be divided into two phases, namely the departure phase which will take place on June 4-3 July 2022, and the return phase which will take place on July 16–August 14, 2022.

"Garuda Indonesia, through various operational preparation efforts that are continuously strengthened, is always committed to providing safe and comfortable hajj flights for pilgrims, especially considering that this year's hajj trip is a journey that has been awaited for more than 2 years," he concluded.