DIY Regional Government Prepares Disembarkation System for Hajj Pilgrims at YIA

The government of Yogyakarta Special Region is refining a disembarkation scheme for hajj pilgrims at Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA). This initiative aims to reduce redundant transfers during pilgrim returns, making the process more efficient and pilgrim-friendly, particularly for elderly passengers.

Ni Made Dwipanti Indrayanti, the Regional Secretary of Yogyakarta Special Region, explained that the current return process frequently requires passengers to transfer between buses, which is considered cumbersome and exhausting. “We are preparing how pilgrims can receive the best possible service during disembarkation, so they do not need to switch buses when returning to their respective regions,” she stated on Friday, 27 February 2026.

A fundamental evaluation concerns the hajj pilgrim return process, currently centralised at Donohudan Hajj Hostel in Boyolali, which consumes considerable time and energy due to repeated transit procedures. Ni Made cited the disembarkation mechanism applied in Solo, where pilgrims arriving at Adi Sumarmo Airport must transfer buses to Donohudan Hajj Hostel before continuing to their respective regions. According to her, this scheme is less effective, particularly for elderly pilgrims requiring practical service with minimal transport changes.

“Typically, pilgrims from Adi Sumarmo are transported by airline buses to Donohudan, then transfer again to regional pickup buses. This is what we wish to evaluate,” she stated.

“We hope that when the aircraft lands, pilgrims disembark, immigration checks are completed, they board buses to their respective regions directly without needing to change vehicles,” she said.

However, the proposed service scheme faces regulatory challenges concerning airport operations. Although the scheme is expected to enhance comfort, Ni Made acknowledged obstacles related to airport security regulations. Bringing regional transport buses directly to the arrival area conflicts with strict restricted-area rules governing airport operations.

Nevertheless, Yogyakarta Regional Government targets making both embarkation and disembarkation processes more practical and capable of providing optimal service to pilgrims without multiple vehicle transfers.

“If you look at it visually, people might think, ‘Oh, so it is already ready’. Actually, it is not quite like that. Since this involves restricted areas—aviation areas that are tightly regulated—transport buses cannot enter or exit without specific conditions. This is what we are currently coordinating,” Ni Made said.

Previously, it was reported that YIA will function as a hotel-based hajj embarkation facility during the 2026 hajj season to serve 26 flight groups (kloter) from Yogyakarta and the Kedu Residency region of Central Java. Two hotels near the airport, Novotel YIA and Ibis YIA, are being prepared to facilitate pilgrim mobility from departure to return.

Yogyakarta became the first region implementing hotel-based hajj embarkation services. Thus far, Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has continuously coordinated with Yogyakarta Regional Government to ensure hajj pilgrims receive the best service.