Hajj Minister Studies Dhoho Airport as East Java Hajj Embarkation Point

Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf is studying the utilisation of Dhoho Airport in Kediri, East Java, as a Hajj embarkation point to reduce congestion at Juanda Airport and the Surabaya Hajj Dormitory. Speaking at the Surabaya Hajj Dormitory on Wednesday, Irfan Yusuf stated that his team had coordinated efforts to activate Dhoho Airport as an alternative embarkation point, deeming it to have adequate capacity. “This morning, my team and I coordinated to try to activate Dhoho Airport in Kediri. The airport is sufficient and very suitable for Hajj flights, especially for large aircraft,” he said. He explained that utilising Dhoho Airport is expected to reduce the operational burden on the Surabaya Hajj Dormitory and overcrowding at Juanda International Airport, which has been the main embarkation point for East Java pilgrims. The high intensity of services, he noted, has even affected the condition of staff, with the Head of the Surabaya Hajj Dormitory Technical Implementation Unit once requiring hospital treatment due to the hectic activity during Hajj operations. “God willing, we will later divert some of the load to Dhoho Airport in Kediri,” he stated. Irfan added that the 2026 national Hajj operations have been concluded and all ranks of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah are beginning preparations for the 2027 Hajj pilgrimage. According to him, various evaluations will be carried out, including the arrangement of embarkation points and improving service quality to ensure next year’s Hajj operations are even better.