Dormitory Not Ready, Ministry Of Religion Rejects Proposed 2024 Hajj Flights To Be Transferred To Kertajati Airport

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) rejected the proposed flight of the 2024 Hajj pilgrims from West Java departing from Kertajati Airport, Majalengka Regency. The reason is because of the condition of the Hajj dormitory.

The Director General of Hajj and Umrah (PHU) of the Ministry of Religion Hilman Latief said the proposal could not be applied to the implementation of the 2024 Hajj. This is because there are no supporting Hajj dormitories.

For your information, Kertajati Airport has indeed served Umrah and Hajj flights. Pilgrims departing from the airport will be placed in the Indramayu Hajj dormitory. However, the dormitory is not enough to accommodate all pilgrims from West Java.

"For this year, we are not ready, because the dormitory is not ready yet," he told reporters, written Thursday, November 23.

Hilman said that the proposal for Hajj flights from West Java through Kertajati Airport could be realized during the Indramayu Hajj dormitory to accommodate all prospective pilgrims.

"Yes, it depends on the readiness in the Hajj dormitory in Indramayu. If we can accommodate a lot, the frequency will also be diverted," he said.

Previously, PT Angkasa Pura II suggested that pilgrims from West Java be dispatched through Kertajati Airport, Majalengka at the Hajj pilgrimage 1445 H/2024.

This step was taken to reduce the burden on Soekarno-Hatta Airport (Soetta) to time efficiency.

President Director of Angkasa Pura II Muhammad Awaluddin said there were a number of considerations before proposing the plan.

One of them is related to the condition of Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten.

Awaluddin said, Soetta Airport bears a high burden by accommodating the flying group (kloter) of pilgrims, where there are four provinces whose departures come from the airports, namely West Java, Lampung, Banten and DKI Jakarta.

"If the Director General of Hajj and Umrah is carried out because there is also a direction from the Minister of Transportation if the congregation from West Java can all depart at Kertajati," he said in a Hearing Meeting with Commission VII DPR, Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Wednesday, November 15.

In addition, Awaluddin said that moving the departure of pilgrims to Kertajati Airport would also make it easier and save time for pilgrims from West Java.

"This will make it easier for pilgrims who are constrained by age or crossing locations," he said.