Will Take Umrah Flights In November, Invented Preparations For Kertajati Airport

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Kertajati Airport, Majalengka, West Java, will service Umrah flights for the first time in November 2022.

Ahead of operation, Kertajati Airport made a number of preparations, both operations and techniques.

Acting (Plt) EGM Kertajati Airport, Nuril Huda said his party had also coordinated with both the Directorate of Aviation Security and airport 1 authorities to prepare Kertajati Airport to serve Umrah pilgrims in November 2022.

"Alhamdulillah, of all the facilities and services and operations, we have all gone well to be able to provide Umrah flight services in November tomorrow," he said, quoted from the Ministry of Transportation's YouTube, Wednesday, October 26.

Nuril said, Kertajati Airport also prepared facilities ranging from Customs, Imigration, Quarantine (CIQ) which had been stood by on call supported by lodging/hotels, hospitals, Hajj dormitories and various other operations near the airport.

Furthermore, Nuril said, lodging facilities are prepared for pilgrims who want to rest before making flights back to their hometowns.

"For supporting facilities around Kertajati Airport, indeed at this time, thank God there are several 4-star hotels that are already operating and that can be a place for pilgrims to rest, who do not immediately return to their hometowns or wait for other flights," he said.

Nuril also explained that there are two airlines that have submitted applications to serve Umrah flights from Kertajati Airport. They are Garuda Indonesia and Lion Air Group.

"For now, there are two airline plans for Umrah flights tomorrow in November that have submitted a slot application to the Air Transport Directorate, namely Garuda Indonesia and Lion Air," he said.

As previously reported, the Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Budi Karya Sumadi said that the Indonesian government and Saudi Arabia agreed to open four Umrah flights from Kertajati Airport, West Java.

"This is certainly encouraging news for all of us, especially the people in West Java and its surroundings who can immediately depart for Umrah from Kertajati Airport," said Budi.

Budi said he had met with the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Indonesia, Sheikh Essam bin Abed Al-Thaqafi to discuss the matter.

He said, targeted for November 2022, Kertajati Airport has started serving Umrah flights.

This agreement is proof of the commitment of the Ministry of Transportation together with stakeholders in the aviation sector to revive flights from and to Kertajati Airport after being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. After Umrah flights, it is hoped that it can be continued with the opening of Hajj flights from Kertajati Airport.

For your information, previously the Ministry of Transportation through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (GACA) of Saudi Arabia had sent a letter to the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) on September 7, 2022, regarding a request for GACA support to provide Umrah flight slots to Garuda Indonesia and Lion Air airlines in November 2022.

A number of other efforts have also been made, including the Ministry of Transportation has coordinated with Angkasa Pura II and West Java International Airport (BIJB) Kertajati to prepare facilities and infrastructure, including personnel on duty at the airport.