Garuda Suspends Flights to Doha; Tangsel Kemenag Assures Umrah Pilgrims are Safe

Tangerang Selatan, Kompas.com – Garuda Indonesia has suspended flights to and from Doha, Qatar, following the closure of the airspace due to the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East involving the United States and Israel with Iran. However, the Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) in South Tangerang City said, to date, no Umrah pilgrims originating from Tangsel have been affected. Rizki Waludin, head of the Hajj and Umrah Management Section at Kemenag Tangsel, said they had not received any reports of cancellations affecting departures or returns. ‘Alhamdulillah, so far no one has reported to Kemenag Tangsel regarding Umrah pilgrims delayed by flight cancellations,’ he said. According to Rizki, based on information he has obtained, the flight suspension so far only concerns Garuda Indonesia’s Doha route and has not impacted Tangsel Umrah pilgrims. ‘Garuda’s cancellations are only for Doha. For Tangsel Umrah pilgrims, there are no reports of impact,’ he added. He also said Kemenag Tangsel continues to monitor the situation and is ready to coordinate with relevant authorities if conditions on the ground change. ‘Tangsel follows the rules of the central government and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah,’ he said. Kemenag also urged Umrah organisers and prospective pilgrims to monitor official information from the airline and the central government. The move comes after Qatar’s airspace was closed amid the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. ‘This step is taken as a preventive measure prioritising the safety and security of flights,’ Garuda Indonesia wrote on its official X account on Sunday, 1 March 2026. Garuda Indonesia said other international routes remain in operation and do not pass through the affected area. The red-and-white carrier also said it would continue to monitor developments in the Middle East region intensively. ‘Passengers affected are advised to regularly check flight schedules via our 24-hour Contact Centre at 021-2351 9999 / 0804 1 807 807 or via garuda-indonesia.com,’ Garuda Indonesia said.