Adi Soemarmo Airport Ready to Serve 29,000 Hajj Pilgrims

Adi Soemarmo Airport in Boyolali, Central Java, has assured full preparedness to serve the departure of Hajj pilgrims for the 2026 season. A total of 81 flight groups (kloter) with 29,121 prospective pilgrims are scheduled to depart via the airport from 22 April to 21 May 2026. All flights will be operated by Garuda Indonesia using Airbus A330-300 aircraft. “We are optimistic that the entire departure process will run smoothly with the support of prepared facilities and personnel,” stated Hery Purwanto, General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia’s Adi Soemarmo Airport Branch Office, to reporters on Friday, 17 April 2026. He explained that for this Hajj season, the airport is reintroducing the fast-track service through the Makkah Route programme. This service enables Saudi immigration checks to be conducted in Indonesia prior to departure. Under this scheme, pilgrims no longer need to undergo document checks upon arrival in Jeddah or Madinah. “The Makkah Route service provides convenience and accelerates the arrival process for pilgrims in Saudi Arabia,” said Hery. Preparedness of supporting facilities has also been ensured, both at the international departure terminal and the Donohudan Hajj Dormitory. Available infrastructure includes pilgrim-friendly facilities such as escalators and lifts for wheelchair users. Additionally, the inspection area at the Hajj dormitory has been equipped with operational support devices. “All facilities at the International Terminal as the Makkah Route area are ready for use,” he stated. From the flight operations perspective, the airport is preparing five parking stands for Hajj aircraft, namely at positions 6, 8, 10, 11A, and 13A. During the Hajj season, the airport’s operational hours will be extended to 24 hours with the issuance of a special NOTAM. This arrangement is intended to accommodate the high frequency of Hajj flights. “We are adjusting to full operational hours to support the smooth running of all Hajj flights,” he said. Regarding security aspects, various equipment has been prepared at the Donohudan Hajj Dormitory, including cabin and baggage X-ray machines, walk-through metal detectors, and hand-held metal detectors. Meanwhile, the movement of pilgrim buses from the dormitory to the terminal will be guided by special vehicles up to the drop-off area. “We are running the entire process based on the principles of safety, security, services, and compliance,” stated Hery. With these various preparations, Adi Soemarmo Airport is expected to provide optimal service for prospective Indonesian Hajj pilgrims. The organisation of the 2026 Hajj departures is targeted to proceed in an orderly, safe, and efficient manner throughout the operational period.