Citilink Opens Kualanamu - Jeddah Direct Flight Route

The Citilink plane was greeted by water salute on the inaugural flight of the Kualanamu - Jeddah route at Kualanamu Deli Serdang International Airport, North Sumatra, Sunday (28/7/2024). (ANTARA/HO-PT Angkasa Pura Aviasi)

PT Angkasa Pura Aviasi as the manager of Kualanamu International Airport Deli Serdang, North Sumatra said Citilink airline, a subsidiary of Garuda Indonesia, opened a direct Kualanamu-Jeddah flight route back and forth.

"We welcome the presence of this inaugural Umrah flight route for Citilink airline," said Director of Commercial and Business Development of PT Angkasa Pura Aviasi Kedar Deshpande in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, Sunday.

After the ceremony at Kualanamu Deli Serdang International Airport which was attended by the Director of Commerce and Cargo of PT Citilink Indonesia Ichwan F Agus and a number of stakeholders, Kedar said the Kualanamu - Jeddah route began operating this Sunday.

He said he was happy with the new route because it met the needs of prospective Umrah pilgrims, especially pilgrims from North Sumatra who continued to increase every year.

Data from the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion of North Sumatra states that 38,224 Umrah pilgrims have left for the holy land in 2023, an increase of around 36.54 percent compared to 2022.

"We are also realizing international transit routes to domestic. Of course this makes it easier for Umrah pilgrims to continue flights with the same airline when they arrive at Kualanamu Airport," he explained as quoted by Antara.

Because, he continued, this international transit route to domestic is aimed at providing services for passengers to facilitate travel by faster and more compact processes.

In this inaugural flight, Citilink airline uses the Boeing A330-900 NEO route Jeddah - Kualanamu which carries as many as 358 passengers, and Kualanamu - Jeddah is filled by 360 passengers of Umrah pilgrims.