Hajj Pilgrims from NTT to Begin Arriving in Kupang on 23 June 2026

Hajj pilgrims from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) are scheduled to begin arriving back in Kupang on 23 June 2026 after completing the entire series of Hajj rituals in the Holy Land. The return process is planned to take place in stages until 25 June 2026 via El Tari International Airport Kupang. To ensure a smooth arrival process, PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia El Tari International Airport Kupang, together with the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) NTT and related agencies, held a Technical Coordination Meeting on the Hajj Pilgrims Return Operation Plan. General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia El Tari International Airport Kupang, Teguh Darmawan Saiman, explained that this coordination is a crucial step to finalise preparations, including checking the service routes for the pilgrims. “We have held a Technical Coordination Meeting to discuss final preparations ahead of the return time, accompanied by a joint inspection of the planned service routes,” said Teguh in Kupang on Saturday (20/6). Based on the operation plan, Hajj pilgrims from NTT will be flown from Surabaya to Kupang. Upon arrival at El Tari Airport, travel routes will be separated based on each pilgrim’s domicile. For pilgrims domiciled outside Timor Island, the airport authorities and committee will facilitate onward flights to their home regions. Meanwhile, pilgrims domiciled in Kupang City and its surroundings will be directed straight to the Hajj Dormitory using provided transport. To maintain order and comfort in the airport area, Teguh urged family members not to pick up pilgrims at El Tari Airport. Families are expected to wait for and collect pilgrims at the Kupang Hajj Dormitory to avoid traffic congestion and overcrowding at the airport terminal. Teguh stressed that the main focus of all stakeholders this year is the aspect of comfort and speed of service. All facilities at El Tari International Airport are confirmed ready to serve the return of these guests of Allah with strict operational standards so that the transition process from the aircraft to their home regions proceeds without significant obstacles. The return of the Hajj pilgrims is a moment eagerly awaited by the people of NTT, considering that El Tari Airport is the main entry point for the pilgrims before they return to the embrace of their families in various districts and cities across East Nusa Tenggara.