{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1665691,
        "msgid": "hajj-cost-increase-for-2026-not-to-be-borne-by-pilgrims-prabowo-steps-in-1775703058",
        "date": "2026-04-09 09:10:12",
        "title": "Hajj Cost Increase for 2026 Not to Be Borne by Pilgrims, Prabowo Steps In!",
        "author": "",
        "source": "CNBC",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Politics",
        "summary": "The Indonesian government, under President Prabowo Subianto's directive, has committed to covering any potential increases in Hajj costs for 2026, ensuring pilgrims are not burdened by rising aviation fuel prices. This includes allocating Rp 1.77 trillion from the 2026 state budget to compensate for higher aircraft fuel costs, amid improving global conditions following reduced tensions in the Middle East. Additionally, efforts are underway to reduce Hajj waiting times from 48 years to as low as 26 years and to form a joint venture between Garuda Indonesia and Saudi Airlines to optimise flight operations.",
        "content": "<p>Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The Minister of Hajj and Umrah (Menhaj) of\nthe Republic of Indonesia, Moch. Irfan Yusuf, has assured that the\ngovernment will cover any potential adjustments to the costs of\norganising the Hajj pilgrimage for 1447 H\/2026 AD. This means that\nincreases in airfare prices due to surging avtur (aviation fuel) costs\nwill not be passed on to the pilgrims. \u201cFrom the outset, President\nPrabowo Subianto has given firm instructions that whatever happens, if\nthere are additional costs, they must not be borne by the Hajj pilgrims.\nThe government ensures this commitment is implemented consistently,\u201d the\nMinister stated during the National Work Meeting (Rakernas) for Hajj\nOrganisational Consolidation, quoted on Thursday (9\/4\/2026). The\nMinister revealed that global dynamics are impacting the operational\naspects of Hajj organisation, including requests for flight price\nadjustments from airlines. On 30 March 2026, Garuda Indonesia submitted\na price change request, followed by Saudi Airlines on 31 March 2026.\nHowever, the government has assured that these changes will not affect\nthe costs borne by pilgrims. \u201cWe assure you that price changes will not\nbe passed on to pilgrims. The state is present to protect pilgrims,\u201d he\nemphasised. The Minister also stressed that in any circumstances, the\nsafety and security of pilgrims remain the top priority in organising\nthe Hajj pilgrimage. He added that the improving global situation is\nproviding optimism for the smooth running of this year\u2019s Hajj.\n\u201cAlhamdulillah, tensions in the Middle East are starting to subside.\nThis is an important factor in supporting the smooth Hajj pilgrimage,\u201d\nhe said. Compensation of Rp 1.77 Trillion In line with this statement,\nthe government has announced it will disburse Rp 1.77 trillion to\ncompensate for the rise in aircraft fuel prices, namely avtur, in order\nto suppress Hajj transportation costs. The Minister of Finance (Menkeu),\nPurbaya Yudhi Sadewa, said that the additional budget has been prepared\nin the 2026 state budget from the results of budget reallocations\ncarried out through efficiency programmes. \u201cIf efficiency is taken, it\u2019s\nput in one place, right. Later, it will be channelled to the previous\none, to new expenditures,\u201d Purbaya said at the State Palace in Jakarta\non Wednesday (8\/4\/2026). Purbaya is confident that the state budget will\nbe sufficient to anticipate energy price pressures caused by the\nconflict in the Middle East between Iran and the United States and\nIsrael since February 2026. This is because the conflict is now easing\nand is also pushing down global crude oil prices. \u201cWhy is it sufficient?\nBecause it\u2019s for a year. We hope with the assumption of US$100,\nhopefully world fuel oil has already dropped. So, the room is still\nquite large,\u201d Purbaya emphasised. Prabowo\u2019s Directive President Prabowo\nSubianto previously decided to reduce Hajj costs by around Rp 2 million,\ndespite the significant increase in avtur prices, which is aircraft\nfuel. \u201cEven though avtur prices are rising, we dare to lower Hajj costs\nfor this year; that is the government\u2019s commitment to protect the\ngrassroots people,\u201d he said during the Government Work Meeting on\nWednesday (8\/4\/2026). Not only that, he is also striving to reduce Hajj\nwaiting times, which starting this year will no longer be 48 years but\nat most 26 years. He even claimed he will fight to make it even shorter.\nIn addition, Prabowo has instructed Garuda Indonesia to form a joint\nventure with Saudi Arabia Airlines to address the issue of empty Garuda\nplanes returning to Indonesia after delivering Hajj pilgrims.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hajj-cost-increase-for-2026-not-to-be-borne-by-pilgrims-prabowo-steps-in-1775703058",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}