JAKARTA - Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf, said there was a potential increase in the cost of the 2026 Hajj in the wake of the war between the United States-Israel and Iran. The potential increase, according to Irfan, could reach more than 50 percent or reach Rp50.8 million per pilgrim in a scenario of changing flight routes from the original cost of Rp33.5 million.
This means that there will be a 17.3 million rupiah increase in flight costs per pilgrim. Meanwhile, in the scenario of no change in flight routes, the increase could reach 39.85 percent or the equivalent of 46.9 million rupiah per pilgrim.
"We certainly understand everything about the current situation of the Timteng. In the determination of the 2026 BPIH, the average cost of Hajj flights per person is in the range of Rp. 33.5 million. However, the increase in global aftur prices, the surge in war risk governments, and the weakening of the exchange, the cost has increased significantly," said Irfan in a meeting with Commission VIII of the DPR at the DPR building, Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday, April 8.
"Political conditions also allow rerouting flights to avoid conflict airspace. For this reason, Garuda Indonesia alternative routes cause an increase in travel time of around 4 hours, as well as an increase in avtur consumption of around 12 thousand tons," he continued.
Irfan detailed, the Garuda Indonesia airline through a letter number Garuda/JAKARTA/DZ/20181-26 proposed an additional Rp7.9 million per pilgrim at the price of 116 US dollars per liter of jet fuel. Meanwhile, Saudi Airline through a letter number 11732247/11501 April 2026 proposed an additional 480 US dollars per pilgrim at the price of 137.4 US dollars per liter of jet fuel.
"In a scenario without route changes, the average cost per pilgrim rises to around Rp. 46.9 million or increases by 39.85 percent. Meanwhile, in the scenario of route changes, the cost increases higher to around Rp. 50.8 million or increases by 51.48 percent," he said.
"This condition confirms that this year's Hajj is under pressure from increasingly complex global factors, so it is necessary to strengthen efficiency, coordination, and mitigation to maintain the sustainability of Hajj financing," continued Irfan.
Irfan said that in the contract between the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and Garuda Indonesia and Saudi Airlines, the force majeure clause was regulated, which gave room for the parties to conduct consultations in adjusting to the evolving conditions. However, said Irfan, until now there has been no official statement regarding force majeure from the winning parties in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia that can serve as the basis.
"Regarding the possibility of adding costs related to flights, the government has started discussing this in a limited meeting, then the essence of President Prabowo hopes that whatever happens, increases, if there is an increase, he asks not to be imposed on our pilgrims," he said.
"That is the commitment of President Prabowo who has asked us with the team to be able to follow up and calculate how much the actual needs are," concluded Irfan.
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