Dahnil: Umrah Pilgrims Should Avoid Airlines Transiting Through Singapore and Malaysia
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia — Deputy Minister for Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak has urged Indonesian Umrah pilgrims to prioritise direct flights to Saudi Arabia. The choice is intended not only to safeguard travel but also to strengthen the Hajj and Umrah economic ecosystem by making greater use of Indonesian airlines.
Dahnil said that, as of Monday (26 October 2026), the situation in the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia, remained favourable for the conduct of Umrah. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is continuing to coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to monitor developments.
“Regarding the escalation in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is fine in terms of Umrah worship. The Foreign Ministry says the same. As of now, Umrah activities are proceeding as usual,” Dahnil said, according to the ministry’s official website on Tuesday (27 October 2026).
Against this backdrop, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has urged pilgrims and Umrah travel organisers (PPIUs) to prioritise direct flights to Jeddah or Medina rather than flights with stopovers in other countries.
“As the body responsible for managing Hajj and Umrah, we urge pilgrims to choose direct flights, not transit flights. Direct flights to Jeddah or Medina are safer, so that is what we recommend,” he said.
To follow up on the appeal, the ministry has convened PPIU associations so travel businesses consider both safety and the economic impact of their flight-route choices.
“We have gathered the PPIU associations to bring this to the attention of travel businesses. We have asked them not to choose transit flights via Malaysia or Singapore for the time being,” Dahnil said.
He estimated that around 70,000 Indonesian Umrah pilgrims use transit flights through Malaysia and Singapore. That number represents an opportunity to strengthen the national aviation industry if pilgrims’ travel can be redirected to Indonesian airlines.
“There are quite a lot of pilgrims transiting in Malaysia and Singapore — around 70,000. If they are directed to national airlines, that will also help our national economy. We should support our two national airlines, Lion and Garuda,” he said.
The Deputy Minister said that strengthening national airlines must go hand in hand with better service and competitive fares. Garuda Indonesia and Lion Air are expected to consolidate their positions in the domestic market while improving their competitiveness internationally.
“Garuda and Lion must improve their services. We need to encourage them to dominate the domestic market and compete effectively overseas,” Dahnil said.
To support improvements, the ministry brought together executives from Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air and Angkasa Pura to discuss Umrah flight services, including improvements to services at the Hajj and Umrah terminal.
The ministry has also called for better service at Terminal 2, which is used for Hajj and Umrah flights. Improving airport services is part of efforts to make pilgrims’ journeys more comfortable and orderly.
Dahnil also highlighted outstanding rights owed to Umrah travel organisers, particularly delayed refunds. The ministry will provide assistance to help resolve the issue.
“Many PPIUs also have outstanding entitlements relating to refunds. We will provide assistance,” he said.
Dahnil thanked the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its cooperation in organising Umrah. He said the Indonesian government wanted to ensure pilgrims could perform their worship safely and return home without incident.
“We also thank the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We want to ensure that pilgrims who travel can return safely,” he said.
He added that the economic sovereignty championed by President Prabowo Subianto should also be reflected in the organisation of Hajj and Umrah. Using direct flights operated by national airlines is one way to protect travel safety while strengthening domestic industry.
“President Prabowo wants economic sovereignty, and that should apply to Umrah and Hajj too. Direct flights are safer and strengthen economic sovereignty,” Dahnil said.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is continuing to coordinate with PPIU associations, airlines and airport operators to improve service quality and ensure that Umrah is conducted safely and benefits both pilgrims and the national economy.