History! Kertajati Airport Flying First Umrah Congregations After The Pandemic

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Transportation)

The Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation together with other stakeholders today carried out a procession of releasing Umrah flights to Saudi Arabia via Kertajati Airport.

Acting (Plt) Director General of Civil Aviation at the Ministry of Transportation, Nur Isnin Istiartono, said the ceremony was marked the inaugural departure of Indonesian Umrah pilgrims from the airport in West Java.

"We always try to encourage the use of Kertajati Airport as a place for Umrah flights. Now this effort has produced results with the implementation of Umrah flights after the pandemic which was held thanks to collaboration and support between the central government, local governments and aviation operators," he said in a written statement, Sunday, November 20.

According to Nur, this departure brought 225 Umrah pilgrims, including those from Cirebon, Indramayu, Majalengka and Kuningan (Ciayumajakuning) areas.

"Congregants who go using Garuda Indonesia aircraft type Airbus 330-300 go straight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia," he said.

Isnin added that this release is expected to be a good start for the recovery of flight operations at Kertajati Airport.

Hopefully it can be a stimulus for airport flight operations and continue to run and be sustainable. I am sure, with the support of all parties, this airport will function well to open connectivity and meet the community's needs for air transportation services," he explained.

For information, Kertajati Airport is one of the airports affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry of Transportation together with other aviation stakeholders continue to make efforts and steps, so that all affected airports can revive.

One of them is by asking for support and participation from local governments in ensuring the occupancy rate of airlines operating at airports in their respective regions.

"We appreciate airport managers, the West Java Regional government and Garuda Indonesia airlines for organizing this Umrah flight. Hopefully, airlines that operate will increase by opening flight routes to other airports, so that this can support the recovery of flight operations and improve the community's economy," he stressed.

On the same occasion, the President Director of PT Bandara Bandar Internasional West Java (BIJB) Kertajati Muhamad Singgih on that occasion expressed his deep appreciation.

"We are grateful to the Ministry of Transportation for all the support that has been given, so that the implementation of post-pandemic Umrah through Kertajati Airport can be held".

To note, this Umrah flight is a concrete form of the follow-up to the direction of the Minister of Transportation so that the central government, local governments and flight operators collaborate in supporting the optimization of flight operations at Kertajati Airport.

Also attending to release the departure of Umrah pilgrims, including Special Staff for Human Resources and Public Relations Management Adita Irawati, Garuda Indonesia Operations Director Tumpal Manumpak Hutapea, Angkasa Pura II Operations Director Abdul Wasid, as well as religious and community leaders.