The People Of West Java Are Making It Easier, The Government Is Now Opening Four Umrah Flights From Kertajati Airport

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi (left) during a meeting with the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Indonesia, Sheikh Essam bin Abed Al-Thaqafi in Jakarta, (photo: doc. between)

JAKARTA - The COVID-19 pandemic, which has subsided, has again opened up opportunities for tourism in various countries. Now 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 leave Umrah from Kertajati Airport," said the Minister of Transportation in a statement received by Antara, in Jakarta, Saturday, October 1. The Minister of Transportation said that he had met with the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Indonesia, Sheikh Essam bin Abed Al-Thaqafi to discuss this matter. He said, targeted in November 2022, Kertajati Airport had started serving Umrah flights. This agreement is proof of the commitment of the Ministry of Transportation with aviation stakeholders to revive flights from and to Kertajati Airport after being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. After the Umrah flight, it is hoped that it can be continued with the opening of hajj flights from Kertajati Airport.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Indonesia Sheikh Essam bin Abed Al-Thaqafi welcomed the opening of four flights from Kertajati to Jeddah. He said this effort would further increase cooperation and bilateral relations between the two countries that had been well established, especially in the transportation sector. "We will facilitate Umrah flights and God's Insha for Hajj flights," he said. Previously, the Ministry of Transportation through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (GACA) of Saudi Arabia on September 7, 2022, regarding the 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 airports.