Hajj Return Flights from Saudi Arabia to Be Filled with Middle Eastern Tourists

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is establishing a cross-ministerial task force to optimise the use of Hajj flights as part of strengthening the national Hajj economy and tourism ecosystem. One of the programme’s main focuses is utilising flights that have previously returned empty from Saudi Arabia to carry Middle Eastern tourists to Indonesia. The formation of the task force was agreed upon in a coordination meeting led by Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, alongside Deputy Minister of Transportation Suntana, Deputy Minister of Tourism Ni Luh Puspa, and Garuda Indonesia CEO Glenny H. Kairupan. Dahnil stated that the move follows President Prabowo Subianto’s directive during an evaluation of the 1447 Hijri/2026 AD Hajj pilgrimage and preparations for the 2027 Hajj. “The President directed that aircraft transporting Hajj pilgrims should not return empty. Therefore, we are coordinating with the Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Tourism, and Garuda Indonesia to prepare concrete steps so that these flights can provide added value for Indonesia,” Dahnil said during a press conference at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah office in Jakarta. According to him, the Indonesian government has obtained permission from Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority, allowing Indonesian airlines to carry passengers on return flights from Saudi Arabia to Indonesia. Previously, some flights that transported Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia had to return to Indonesia without passengers, known as empty flights. Through this new programme, the empty seat capacity will be used to bring tourists from Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries to various premier tourist destinations in Indonesia. Dahnil assessed that this step aligns with the government’s vision to make the Hajj pilgrimage not only a religious activity but also one with broader economic impact.