PKB Legislators Ask Hajj Airlines To Detail Costs

Member of Commission VII DPR from the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction Mahdalena/PHOTO IST

JAKARTA - Member of Commission VII DPR from the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction Mahdalena asked airlines involved in the implementation of the hajj to detail operational costs. This transparency is needed to determine the amount of the costs to be paid.

"Don't just cats and cats with the Ministry of Religion as if we don't exist. We need the data so we know the description of the costs," Mahdalena said in a written statement, Saturday, January 4.

Mahdalena also highlighted Lion Air's participation in this year's Hajj. He welcomed positively the hope that this airline could reduce the potential for delays or delays which became a problem in organizing the pilgrimage.

The departures and returns of Indonesian pilgrims were previously only facilitated by two airlines, namely Garuda Indonesia and Saudi Airlines.

"We hope that with the addition of the Lion Air fleet, we can suppress the potential delay," he said.

This legislator believes Lion Air is able to provide quality services to Indonesian pilgrims and Hajj officers. Moreover, Lion Air has been used to serve pilgrims from Asia, Europe, and Africa so far.

Selain itu, Lion Air sejak tahun 2009 kerap melayani masyarakat Indonesia untuk melaksanakan ibadah umrah. Tapi, di sisi lain, dia mengingatkan maskapai ini bisa memberikan harga yang kompetif.

"If the price offered is higher than Garuda and Saudi Airlines, yes, it can no longer be used," he said.

As previously reported, the Indonesian government involved Lion Air to serve flights for the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage. This is the first time the airline bearing the lion symbol has participated because since 2009 it has only served Umrah trips.

To make the pilgrimage a success, Lion Air prepared 10 planes and 3 reserve aircraft. Lion Air Group Operations Director, Daniel Putut Kuncoro Adi ensured that his party was ready to carry out this new task.

"Untuk kesiapan pesawat untuk masing-masing embarkasi dan debarkasi dengan rincian rencana operasional, kami siap 100 persen dengan total pesawat yang kami siapkan adalah 10 pesawat, dan sejumlah krub, katanya dalam rapat suruim (RDP) dengan Komisi VIII DPR RI, dikutip Jumat, 3 Januari.

Daniel also said that all aircraft prepared for the 2025 Hajj flight transportation are no more than 10 years old.

In addition, he continued, all aircraft that will be used for Hajj flights are also being treated at aircraft maintenance facilities or Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul (MRO) owned by Lion Air Group in Batam, Riau Islands.

At the latest, the age of the plane is in 2014, so it's only been 10 years. Others are even 2 years old. And we don't all rent, we have our own plane. We also prepared 3 planes for backup," said Daniel.