Hajj Cost Increase for 2026 Not to Be Borne by Pilgrims, Prabowo Steps In!

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The Minister of Hajj and Umrah (Menhaj) of the Republic of Indonesia, Moch. Irfan Yusuf, has assured that the government will cover any potential adjustments to the costs of organising the Hajj pilgrimage for 1447 H/2026 AD. This means that increases in airfare prices due to surging avtur (aviation fuel) costs will not be passed on to the pilgrims. “From the outset, President Prabowo Subianto has given firm instructions that whatever happens, if there are additional costs, they must not be borne by the Hajj pilgrims. The government ensures this commitment is implemented consistently,” the Minister stated during the National Work Meeting (Rakernas) for Hajj Organisational Consolidation, quoted on Thursday (9/4/2026). The Minister revealed that global dynamics are impacting the operational aspects of Hajj organisation, including requests for flight price adjustments from airlines. On 30 March 2026, Garuda Indonesia submitted a price change request, followed by Saudi Airlines on 31 March 2026. However, the government has assured that these changes will not affect the costs borne by pilgrims. “We assure you that price changes will not be passed on to pilgrims. The state is present to protect pilgrims,” he emphasised. The Minister also stressed that in any circumstances, the safety and security of pilgrims remain the top priority in organising the Hajj pilgrimage. He added that the improving global situation is providing optimism for the smooth running of this year’s Hajj. “Alhamdulillah, tensions in the Middle East are starting to subside. This is an important factor in supporting the smooth Hajj pilgrimage,” he said. Compensation of Rp 1.77 Trillion In line with this statement, the government has announced it will disburse Rp 1.77 trillion to compensate for the rise in aircraft fuel prices, namely avtur, in order to suppress Hajj transportation costs. The Minister of Finance (Menkeu), Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, said that the additional budget has been prepared in the 2026 state budget from the results of budget reallocations carried out through efficiency programmes. “If efficiency is taken, it’s put in one place, right. Later, it will be channelled to the previous one, to new expenditures,” Purbaya said at the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday (8/4/2026). Purbaya is confident that the state budget will be sufficient to anticipate energy price pressures caused by the conflict in the Middle East between Iran and the United States and Israel since February 2026. This is because the conflict is now easing and is also pushing down global crude oil prices. “Why is it sufficient? Because it’s for a year. We hope with the assumption of US$100, hopefully world fuel oil has already dropped. So, the room is still quite large,” Purbaya emphasised. Prabowo’s Directive President Prabowo Subianto previously decided to reduce Hajj costs by around Rp 2 million, despite the significant increase in avtur prices, which is aircraft fuel. “Even though avtur prices are rising, we dare to lower Hajj costs for this year; that is the government’s commitment to protect the grassroots people,” he said during the Government Work Meeting on Wednesday (8/4/2026). Not only that, he is also striving to reduce Hajj waiting times, which starting this year will no longer be 48 years but at most 26 years. He even claimed he will fight to make it even shorter. In addition, Prabowo has instructed Garuda Indonesia to form a joint venture with Saudi Arabia Airlines to address the issue of empty Garuda planes returning to Indonesia after delivering Hajj pilgrims.