Again And Again, Delay's Garuda Again Makes Congregants Hold 28 Hours

The aircraft belongs to Garuda Indonesia airline. BETWEEN/Farhan Arda Nugraha

JAKARTA - Garuda Indonesia again experienced delays/delays which made Indonesian pilgrims detained for 28 hours when returning to their homeland.

"Delaylagi and again. Repeatedly. We value Garuda Indonesia's performance this year is very bad, unprofessional," said Director General of Hajj and Umrah at the Ministry of Religion Hilman Latief as quoted by Antara, Monday, July 8.

Delay penerbangan dialami oleh jamaah haji Keluar Pembangan (Kloter) 9 Embarkasi Balikpapan (BPN-09). Sebelumnya, jamaah haji Kloter 3 Embarkasi Kualanamu (KNO-03) juga mengalami delay selama 12 jam.

The delay experienced by BPN-09 is the longest in the hajj operational phase of 1445 Hijri/2024 AD, because it is more than one day. The Ministry of Religion will also protest strongly against Garuda.

"We strongly protest against Garuda Indonesia over the re-delay of Indonesian pilgrims in the repatriation phase," said Hilman.

A total of 324 BPN-09 people came from Palu, Central Sulawesi (Central Sulawesi). They should return to their homeland, on July 6, 2024, at 13.40 Saudi Arabia time (WAS).

They were already on the bus and ready to go to Madinah's Muhammad bin Abdul Aziz (AMAA) Airport when they were informed that there was a flight delay and would only be flown on Sunday, July 7, 2024, at around 17:40 WAS (Saudi Arabia time).

"Notifications from Garuda Indonesia also often suddenly. Even the congregation is already on the bus and ready to go to AMAA Madinah Airport, they will only be informed if there is a delay. This happened similar to KNO-03. Obviously Garuda Indonesia is not professional," he said.