Indonesia, S. Arabia agree on haj transportation

Indonesia, S. Arabia agree on haj transportation

JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Religious Affairs signed an
agreement on Tuesday with Garuda Indonesia and Saudi Arabian
Airlines to fly over 175,000 haj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia next
year.

The agreement was signed here by the ministry's director
general for haj affairs, Mubarok, Garuda Indonesia's Bachrul
Hakim and Saudi Arabian Airlines' Khaled A. Ben-bakr. Also
present during the signing was Minister of Religious Affairs
Tolchah Hasan.

According to the agreement, Garuda will transport 111,607
pilgrims and Saudi Arabian Airlines will transport 63,861 at a
price of US$1,200 per person.

"All airplanes used for the haj must have been built after
1980," Mubarok said.

Garuda will use Boeing 747s, which can hold up to 455
passengers, to transport pilgrims embarking in Medan and Jakarta.
Those flying out of Surakarta and Balikpapan will be served with
MD-11s, while pilgrims leaving from Makassar and Aceh will be
transported aboard Boeing 767s.

Saudi Arabian Airlines will serve pilgrims flying out of
Surabaya and Jakarta with Boeing 747s.

Tolchah said transportation accounted for nearly 44 percent of
the pilgrimage's total expense, so it was understandable that
people scrutinized their travel arrangements.

He said it was important to ensure pilgrims were provided all
the necessary services.

Tolchah also hinted that despite being the national air
carrier, Garuda Indonesia may not have a monopoly in transporting
pilgrims as it did in the past.

"Starting next year haj flights will be tendered. Whoever
gives the best service and the cheapest price will be the one we
pick," he said. (mds)