Hajj Flight Costs Could Rise Amid Global Energy Crisis: Will Pilgrims Bear the Burden?

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Hajj flight costs are assessed as potentially facing increases amid the global energy crisis. Nevertheless, Indonesia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) assures that such increases will not be burdened on pilgrims who have already settled their Hajj travel fees (Bipih).

Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah of Indonesia, Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, emphasised that the government has anticipated the potential rise in aviation fuel prices, which is a key concern for organising next year’s Hajj pilgrimage.

“Regarding the increase in aviation fuel prices for flights, both from the Saudi side and ours, we can still control it well. Clearly, from the Indonesian government’s side, it will not burden Indonesian Hajj pilgrims,” Dahnil told Republika on Thursday (2/4/2026).

This statement was made by Dahnil following a bilateral meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Abdulfattah bin Sulaiman Mashat, in Madinah on Sunday (29/3/2026), which discussed various preparations for the 2026 Hajj amid global dynamics, particularly in the energy sector.

According to Dahnil, the government’s current focus is not only on transportation aspects but also on the availability of food logistics for Indonesian pilgrims in the Holy Land. He stated that he had directly confirmed this readiness to Saudi authorities.

“I confirmed this attention to the Saudi government and related authorities in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi side stated there are no issues with food availability during the upcoming Hajj season, and in the coming months, we hope the escalation of conflicts will decrease,” said Dahnil.