Deputy Haj and Umrah Minister Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak urged Indonesian umrah pilgrims to fly directly to Saudi Arabia, citing potential support for Indonesian airlines and safety concerns linked to the Middle East conflict, The Straits Times reported.
Deputy Haj and Umrah Minister Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak said about 70,000 Indonesian pilgrims travel through Singapore or Malaysia, the paper reported. He named Lion Air and Garuda Indonesia as possible carriers, saying a greater role for Indonesian airlines could support the economy.
Simanjuntak linked his safety concerns to the conflict in the Middle East and said umrah activities in Saudi Arabia remained unaffected, according to The Straits Times.
For travel operators, the ministry is also offering help with refund problems, while its coordination with airlines and Angkasa Pura aims to improve haj and umrah services, the paper reported.
