Menhaj Says Hajj Flight Costs for 2026 Could Rise by Up to 51 Percent

JAKARTA - Indonesian Minister of Hajj and Umrah M Irfan Yusuf has acknowledged that Hajj flight costs for 2026 are likely to experience a significant increase, with or without changes to flight routes.

He explained that this situation is influenced by rising aircraft fuel prices and the weakening of the rupiah against the dollar.

“We certainly understand the current situation in the Middle East. In determining the BPIH for 2026, the average Hajj flight cost per pilgrim is around Rp33.5 million. However, the global increase in avtur prices, surge in war risk, and depreciation of the exchange rate have caused this cost to rise significantly,” said Irfan during a working meeting with Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives on Wednesday (8/4/2026).

According to him, if airlines have to take alternative routes, the travel time will increase by about four hours, with additional avtur consumption of up to 12,000 tons.

“Garuda Airlines, through letter number Garuda/JAKARTA/DZ/20181-26, has proposed an additional Rp7.9 million per pilgrim at an avtur price of 116 US dollars per litre,” said Irfan.

Meanwhile, Saudi Airlines has also requested an increase of 480 US dollars per pilgrim at an avtur price of 137.4 US dollars per litre.

In the scenario of route changes, costs could rise even higher to around Rp50.8 million per pilgrim, or an increase of 51.48 percent.

“This condition confirms that the organisation of Hajj this year is under pressure from increasingly complex global factors, thus requiring strengthened efficiency, coordination, and mitigation to maintain the sustainability of Hajj financing,” said Irfan.

He continued that there is a force majeure clause in the contract between the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and Garuda Indonesia and Saudi Airlines airlines.

“However, to date, there has been no official statement regarding force majeure from the authorised parties, either in Indonesia or Saudi Arabia, that could serve as the basis for that,” said Irfan.

Nevertheless, Irfan emphasised that President Prabowo Subianto has requested that the cost increase not be burdened on Hajj pilgrims if it indeed occurs.

“That is a commitment from President Prabowo, which has been instructed to us heads with the team to follow up and calculate exactly how much funding is needed,” he said.