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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Economy & Trade

Indonesia Seeks Legal Basis to Subsidize Hajj Flight Cost Increases

From Tempo · (1d ago) Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The Indonesian government is seeking a legal basis to cover a $1.77 trillion shortfall in the operational costs for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage.
  • The increased costs are attributed to higher flight fares from Garuda Indonesia and Saudia Airlines, driven by rising jet fuel prices and regional conflicts.
  • President Prabowo Subianto has instructed that the additional costs should not be passed on to pilgrims, prompting the search for alternative funding.

The Indonesian government, under President Prabowo Subianto's directive, is grappling with a significant financial challenge to ensure the Hajj pilgrimage remains affordable for its citizens. A substantial increase in operational costs, amounting to Rp 1.77 trillion, has emerged due to unexpected hikes in airfare from Garuda Indonesia and Saudia Airlines. This surge is directly linked to the volatile global market, specifically the escalating price of jet fuel (avtur) and the ripple effects of conflicts in West Asia, which have destabilized currency exchange rates.

The government ensures that we will cover the shortfall, the request for additional budget.

— Mochamad Irfan YusufMinister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf confirming the government's commitment to cover the additional Hajj costs.

Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Mochamad Irfan Yusuf, has been tasked with finding a legal framework to allocate funds to cover this deficit. The commitment is clear: the additional burden will not fall upon the pilgrims themselves. This stance reflects a deep understanding of the Hajj's significance for Indonesian Muslims and the government's responsibility to facilitate this religious journey. The urgency was palpable, as the Minister described a frantic period in the days leading up to the Hajj 2026 preparations when both airlines unexpectedly requested additional payments.

The budget is definitely there. We are just looking for the legal basis to disburse that budget.

— Mochamad Irfan YusufMinister of Hajj and Irfan Yusuf explaining the current financial and legal situation.

Discussions are underway between the Ministry of Hajj and the relevant parliamentary commission (Komisi VIII DPR) to identify the source of these funds. While the exact mechanism is still being finalized, the Minister assured that the budget is available, emphasizing the need to secure the legal foundation for its disbursement. The President's firm instruction – "Whatever happens, this additional cost must not be borne by the pilgrims" – underscores the government's priority. This situation highlights the complexities of managing international travel logistics for a mass pilgrimage, especially amidst global economic and geopolitical uncertainties, and the Indonesian government's dedication to protecting its citizens from such financial shocks.

Garuda requested an additional payment, Saudia did not? No, thank God, they didn't, at that time. Turns out, suddenly Saudia also requested an additional payment because the avtur increased.

— Mochamad Irfan YusufMinister of Hajj and Umrah describing the unexpected requests for increased flight costs.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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