Jet Fuel Price Surge Causes Hajj Costs to Balloon by Rp 1.77 Trillion, Minister Says Additional Funding Not from State Budget

Minister of Hajj and Umrah (Menhaj) Mochamad Irfan Yusuf, alias Gus Irfan, stated that the government has identified alternative funding to cover the additional costs arising from the rise in aviation fuel prices for Hajj pilgrims’ airlines.

The conflict in West Asia (Middle East) is known to have caused oil and fuel prices, including avtur, to surge, resulting in the flight costs for Hajj pilgrims in 2026 ballooning by Rp 1.77 trillion.

Gus Irfan revealed that the government has discussed funding sources to patch the Hajj cost overrun, which will not come from the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN).

“Yesterday, we discussed several alternatives—how many alternatives—not from the APBN but still from national financial allocations,” said Gus Irfan at the Office of the Coordinating Ministry for Food, Jakarta, on Tuesday (21/4/2026).

He only mentioned that the government is discussing the legal basis that can serve as the foundation for using non-APBN funds to cover the Hajj flight costs.

“We are indeed discussing the legal hook, the legal cushion, to ensure that we can cover the avtur cost shortfall,” stated Gus Irfan.

It is known that avtur prices have jumped from Rp 13,656 to Rp 23,551 per litre. This has led Garuda Indonesia and Saudi Airlines to request an increase in the flight costs for Hajj pilgrims in 2026.

Faced with this cost overrun, Gus Irfan then met with President Prabowo Subianto.

The President instructed that the additional costs should not be passed on to prospective Hajj pilgrims.

“Yes, because we were a bit flustered about this, I reported to the President, and the President said, ‘Whatever happens, this addition should not be burdened on the pilgrims,’” said Gus Irfan during a press conference at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday (15/4/2026).

The partners of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah also requested that the Rp 1.77 trillion additional cost not be passed on to prospective pilgrims.

In a Working Meeting with Gus Irfan at the Parliamentary Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday (14/4/2026), he said that Commission VIII could understand this issue.

Commission VIII emphasised that the additional costs must not be passed on to pilgrims but should be the responsibility of the state,” said Marwan.