Some 120 Umrah pilgrims from Solo, Central Java, whose return had\nbeen temporarily delayed due to the Middle East conflict, have now\nreturned home safely. Meanwhile, the departure of Umrah pilgrims from\nSolo to the Holy Land is currently confirmed to be proceeding\nnormally.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Association of Umrah and Hajj Travel Agents in\nIndonesia (Perpuhi) Solo city, Her Suprabu, confirmed that no Solo-based\npilgrims were stranded at airports as a result of the Middle East\nconflict; what occurred was only a delay to departures due to flight\ncancellations.<\/p>\n
They were not stranded. It was only pending because the planes were\ncancelled. All were facilitated. Some waited two to three days, but now\neveryone has returned, he said when speaking to reporters at the\nDewangga Solo Hajj and Umrah Travel Bureau office on Wednesday, 4 March\n2026.<\/p>\n
Her explained that during the disruption, pilgrims were pulled back\nto hotels to await updates on flight schedules. The airport conditions\nat the time were described as chaotic because many flights were delayed.\nNow, according to him, flight operations have returned to normal, albeit\nwith longer journey times.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe route is indeed somewhat longer. It usually takes 8\u20139 hours; now\nit can be 10\u201311 hours to avoid the conflict airspace,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Her also assured that departures of Solo-based Umrah pilgrims are\ncontinuing even though the Middle East conflict has escalated.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince the escalation, up to today they can still depart. If via\nDewangga, we use Garuda and Saudi Airlines packages. There are\ndepartures today, and another two days later,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
According to him, several travel packages were disrupted due to\nflight cancellations. However, the travel agencies redirected pilgrims\nto airlines still operating.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome packages yesterday faced flight disruptions; we switched to\nplanes that were still operating. There are three still operating:\nGaruda, Lion, and Saudi Airlines. So pilgrims are still facilitated\naccording to the schedule chosen,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Regarding the security guarantee of the route, Her said they would\ncontinue to follow airline policy. As long as the airline operates and\nthere is no cancellation notice, he assumes the flights are safe.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs long as the airline permits and continues to operate, there is\nalready a safety consideration. It is not possible for us to force it.\nIf there is no cancellation notice, we assume it is safe,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, he acknowledged there are losses for travel\nagencies due to cancellations and flight diversions. However, he\ndeclined to detail the amounts.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are certainly losses. Hotels there cannot refund because they\nare regarded as having no issue. Tickets also incur price differences;\nfor instance moving from Qatar to Garuda, the difference can be Rp 1\nmillion to Rp 1.5 million per pilgrim,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
That price difference, he added, becomes the agency\u2019s responsibility\nto cover.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you multiply by the number of pilgrims, it would be quite\nsubstantial. It is the agency\u2019s responsibility to cover everything.\nHopefully there will be an insurance solution because this is force\nmajeure,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, He urged the public intending to go on Umrah not to\nworry excessively, provided they follow official guidance and use\nairlines still operating on safe routes.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Solo\u2019s Mayor Respati Ardi said the City Government of Solo\ncontinues to monitor the situation and stands ready to escort the return\nof Umrah pilgrims if any hiccups arise.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope that residents facing difficulties there, especially Solo\nresidents, will be able to communicate with us and the Ministry of Hajj\nand Umrah. We will continue to oversee until their return is completed,\u201d\nhe said after meeting with representatives from the Ministry of Hajj and\nUmrah and Perpuhi Solo.<\/p>\n
Respati also encouraged Solo residents who already planned and\nscheduled to perform Umrah to proceed. However, he urged them to use\nairlines that offer direct flights such as Lion Air and Garuda.<\/p>\n
Amid news of the return, some prospective pilgrims remain anxious.\nSarifatun, a resident of Pajang, Laweyan district, Solo, said she was\nbriefly frightened by the developments in the Middle East conflict.<\/p>\n
\u201cA situation like this makes me afraid. I even considered cancelling,\npostponing to July or August,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She was scheduled to depart for Umrah after Eid with eight family\nmembers. All administrative tasks, including visas, have been completed.\nYet she is still weighing the final decision with her family.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, hopefully nothing goes wrong if she does go ahead,\u201d she\nsaid.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/stalled-briefly-120-solo-umrah-pilgrims-have-returned-home-1772625713", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }