Starting August 2023, JB Sudirman Airport Purbalingga Serves Umrah Feeder Flights

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi (left). (Photo: Doc. Antara)

General Besar Sudirman Airport (JBS) in Purbalingga, Central Java is preparing to serve Umrah feeder flights in August 2023.

This airport was chosen because the population in this area is quite large.

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi said that Purbalingga and its surrounding areas in western and southern Central Java have a large population of around 5 to 7 million.

The community has the potential to travel normally, business, official, and Umrah.

With the opening of a feeder flight for Umrah with a special package, starting using a plane from JBS Airport to Halim Airport, then using a bus to Soekarno Hatta Airport, it will make it easier for people in Purbalingga and its surroundings.

"For Umrah, we will make a package specifically at competitive prices. Travel can be faster by plane from JBS Airport. It will not take more than 5 hours like before if it is by land," he said in an official statement, quoted Monday, June 19.

In this regard, Budi admitted that his party together with stakeholders discussed comprehensively regarding efforts to optimize JBS Airport.

One of them is serving feeder flights for Umrah.

Budi said that his party wanted to ensure that connectivity at the airports that had been built could run well.

Not only at JBS Purbalingga Airport, but also other airports in Indonesia.

"We mapped which ones have not been good for us to improve, so that they get good traffic and can make it easier for people to move at this airport," he said.

Meanwhile, Purbalingga Regent Dyah Hayuning Pratiwi explained that the Umrah feeder flight service from JBS Airport was very welcomed by regional heads in five regencies in Banyumas Raya and also received good responses from the local Umrah travel and bureau.

"God willing, the Umrah trip will be faster. Usually, you have to go to Jakarta first and have to stay overnight. Later we can depart from General Besar Sudirman Airport, then to Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, immediately take a shuttle bus to Cengkareng and immediately on that day also go to Makkah," he said.

On the same occasion, President Director of Angkasa Pura II Muhammad Awaludin expressed his support so that JBS Airport serves Umrah feeder flights. It will also provide a number of incentives.

The provision of incentive schemes in the context of supporting the operational costs of these airports, airlines, and also Umrah travelers is getting better. We will provide exemptions for airlines for PJP4U costs. Consisting of aircraft parking costs, aircraft landing costs, counter check-in fees, and other support facilities," he said.