391 Indonesian Hajj Pilgrims from First Batch of Pondok Gede Embarkation Depart for Holy Land

Tangerang (ANTARA) - A total of 391 Indonesian Hajj pilgrims, comprising the first flying group (kloter) from Pondok Gede Embarkation in Jakarta, were dispatched to the Holy Land as the inaugural kloter on Wednesday early morning. Hundreds of these prospective pilgrims were flown to Madinah via Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, around 00:45 WIB using Garuda Indonesia airlines. “Tonight, the pilgrims of kloter 1 CKG from Pondok Gede Embarkation, numbering approximately 391 people, have arrived. They entered Terminal 2F for subsequent departure preparation processes before being flown out,” said Assistant Deputy for Communication and Legal Affairs at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Yudistiawan, in Tangerang on Wednesday. Before boarding, these 391 Hajj pilgrims were directed straight to Terminal 2F, which exclusively serves Hajj flights. There, they underwent preparation and inspection processes via the Makkah Route (fast track) for Saudi Arabian immigration. He stated that the departure of these hundreds of first-kloter Hajj pilgrims signals the beginning of the 2026 Hajj operational series at Indonesia’s largest airport. “To support the smooth departure process, the airport authorities have prepared various supporting facilities,” he said. He mentioned that one of the supports for these Hajj flights is the provision of prayer facilities at Soekarno-Hatta Airport capable of accommodating up to 1,000 people, as well as four waiting areas each with a capacity of around 450 people to anticipate flight delays. Additionally, the Makkah Route service is operational to facilitate the immigration process for pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. There are 10 counters equipped with the latest technology to expedite document checks, so pilgrims no longer need to queue for long upon arrival at their destination. “We ensure the process is more seamless, allowing pilgrims to proceed more smoothly and comfortably,” he added. Furthermore, Yudistiawan continued, from a health perspective, they have also provided medical facilities in collaboration with quarantine health officers to anticipate emergencies. “Special services such as wheelchairs with accompanying staff have also been prepared for pilgrims who need them,” he stated. He added that during this year’s Hajj services, the airport management has deployed around 200 personnel to stand by at Terminal 2F to ensure all departure processes run safely, orderly, and smoothly.