Merpati wants role in transporting haj pilgrims<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Local private airline Merpati Nusantara is
\nseeking the government's approval to become involved once again
\nin the transportation of haj pilgrims to Mecca, Saudi Arabia,
\nnext year.<\/p>\n
Merpati president Wahyu Hidayat said on Tuesday the airline
\nwas fully prepared to participate and was capable of providing a
\nreliable service.<\/p>\n
\"We are ready. If we are capable of transporting the haj
\npilgrims directly to the Saudi Arabian destination, then why not
\ndo it?\" he said after a meeting with House Commission VII for
\neducation, religion, sport and youth affairs.<\/p>\n
The government announced last year that it would involve
\nMerpati in transporting Indonesian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia
\ntogether with Garuda Indonesia Airlines for the 1999 haj season.<\/p>\n
The plan was canceled due to the sharp decline in the number
\nof haj candidates amid the prolonged economic crisis.<\/p>\n
Garuda, the only local airline allowed by the Saudi government
\nto carry haj pilgrims, transports them from seven embarkation
\npoints of Aceh, Medan in North Sumatra, Jakarta, Surakarta in
\nCentral Java, Surabaya in East Java, Balikpapan in East
\nKalimantan and Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
Wahyu said Merpati wanted to be involved in next year's haj
\nseason because it believed the number of prospective pilgrims
\nwould increase 50 percent due to the gradual economic recovery.<\/p>\n
Merpati transported haj pilgrims from 1975 to 1978.<\/p>\n
He said the airline submitted a proposal during Tuesday's
\nmeeting for the transportation of pilgrims from Ujungpandang and
\nBalikpapan for next year's haj season.<\/p>\n
\"We would offer an airfare of US$1,300 for a return haj trip
\nfrom Ujungpandang to Saudi Arabia and $1,480 from Balikpapan.\"<\/p>\n
He said the rates were tentative and Merpati was considering
\nreducing the fare below last year's average $1,200 as a response
\nto the commission's call, he said.<\/p>\n
Wahyu said Merpati estimated it would need to accommodate
\nabout 29,000 prospective pilgrims from Ujungpandang and 7,000
\nfrom Balikpapan.<\/p>\n
Garuda separately appeared before Commission VII on Tuesday in
\na hearing on next year's haj transportation fare.<\/p>\n
Garuda planned to increase the fare for embarkation from
\nJakarta, Surabaya, Surabaya, Balikpapan and Ujungpandang.<\/p>\n
The new proposed fee per person for Jakarta embarkation is
\n$1,240, Surakarta $1,340, Surabaya $1,320, Balikpapan $1,380 and
\nUjungpandang $1,400. (cst)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/merpati-wants-role-in-transporting-haj-pilgrims-1447893297",
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