Indonesian pilgrims heading to Saudi Arabia for umrah are being encouraged to take direct flights instead of making a stop in Malaysia or Singapore.
The move is aimed at supporting Indonesia’s aviation industry and keeping more of the economic benefits within the country, with travel safety also cited as a reason.
Around 70,000 pilgrims use transit routes
According to ANTARA, Indonesia’s Deputy Hajj and Umrah Minister Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak said that travel operators had been asked to temporarily avoid booking flights that transit through Malaysia and Singapore.
He said around 70,000 Indonesian umrah pilgrims use these transit routes, representing a sizeable opportunity for the country’s own airlines.
By encouraging these travellers to fly with Indonesian carriers, including Garuda Indonesia and Lion, the government hopes to strengthen its aviation industry and support the local economy.
Airlines urged to improve services and fares too
However, Dahnil acknowledged that getting pilgrims to choose local airlines would also require those carriers to step up.
He urged them to improve their services and offer competitive ticket prices so they could better compete with foreign airlines.
In other words, the push to support Indonesian carriers comes with an expectation that they offer passengers a more attractive travel option too.
Direct flights recommended for safer travel
Besides the economic benefits, Dahnil also pointed to travel safety amid tensions in the Middle East.
As reported by Bisnis.com, he recommended direct flights to Jeddah or Madinah, describing these as safer options.
At the same time, Dahnil said umrah activities in Saudi Arabia were continuing normally, with the ministry coordinating with Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry to monitor developments.
For now, the reported move is an appeal for pilgrims and travel operators to prioritise direct flights and temporarily avoid the two transit hubs. It has not been presented in these reports as a formal transit ban.
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