Middle East Tensions: 358 Umrah Pilgrims from Makassar Remain in Saudi Arabia
The Head of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for South Sulawesi, Ikbal Ismail, has stated that 358 umrah pilgrims from South Sulawesi remain in Saudi Arabia carrying out their religious observances with no scheduled return date.
“Provisional data shows 358 umrah pilgrims from South Sulawesi still in Saudi Arabia,” Ikbal told CNNIndonesia.com on Monday (2 March).
He emphasised that the hundreds of pilgrims are not detained in Saudi Arabia due to the conflict occurring in the Middle East.
“They are not detained, but they are continuing their observances, and there simply is no return schedule yet,” he added.
According to Ikbal, the direct flight from Makassar to Jeddah is currently operating normally with no significant impact.
“The direct flight from Makassar to Jeddah is operating normally. Perhaps those transiting through Singapore are transiting via Qatar or Yemen. But on average, our direct flights from Makassar to Jeddah don’t require a transit,” he said.
Fifteen international flights cancelled at Bali Airport
Meanwhile, on the Island of Bali, a total of 15 international flights have been cancelled. Thousands of passengers are affected at Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali, due to the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East region between Israel and Iran.
Gede Eka Sandi Asmadi, Communication and Legal Division Head of PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia at Ngurah Rai International Airport, stated that from Saturday (28 February) to Monday (2 March), there were 15 flights experiencing cancellations.
“As of Monday at 13:00 WITA, there were a total of 15 international route flights—8 departures and 7 arrivals—that experienced flight cancellations,” Eka Sandi said in a written statement on Monday (2 March).
He explained that flight operations and airport services at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali are generally continuing to operate normally and optimally.
Furthermore, the management of PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia (InJourney Airports), which operates Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, is continuously monitoring the airspace situation in the Middle East region.
It is also coordinating with various institutions, particularly with airlines to continue updating flight schedules and handling prospective passengers already at the airport, with AirNav Indonesia to monitor affected airspace, and with security authorities to anticipate security conditions at the airport.
“Based on data from airlines, the number of prospective passengers from flights experiencing flight schedule adjustments totals 3,197 passengers, which represents outbound passengers. The handling of all these passengers has been carried out in accordance with each airline’s policy,” he said.
He mentioned that Ngurah Rai Airport has also anticipated plans for parking stand arrangements for aircraft from affected flights, allocated for five aircraft from three affected airlines.
Additionally, the airport urged prospective air passengers to continue communicating with airlines for updated flight schedule information.
“We have also provided a help desk service located on the 2nd floor of the international departure terminal, as well as a contact centre service that can be accessed by telephone at number 172 for flight schedule updates,” he said.
The details of the flight schedules experiencing schedule adjustments or cancellations include:
Departures:
Emirates EK369 STD 19:50 WITA (28 February) Denpasar (DPS) to Dubai (DXB) cancelled.
Etihad Airways EY477 STD 18:45 WITA (28 February) Denpasar (DPS) to Abu Dhabi (AUH) cancelled.
Qatar Airways QR963 STD 20:30 WITA (28 February) Denpasar (DPS) to Doha (DOH) cancelled.
Qatar Airways QR961 STD 02:10 WITA (1 March) Denpasar (DPS) to Doha (DOH) cancelled.
Emirates EK399 STD 00:25 WITA (1 March) Denpasar (DPS) to Dubai (DXB) cancelled.
Emirates EK369 STD 19:50 WITA (1 March) Denpasar (DPS) to Dubai (DXB) cancelled.
Etihad Airways EY477 STD 18:45 WITA (1 March) Denpasar (DPS) to Abu Dhabi (AUH) cancelled.
Emirates EK399 STD 00:25 WITA (2 March) Denpasar (DPS) to Dubai (DXB) cancelled.
Arrivals:
Etihad EY476 STA 11:35 WITA (1 March) Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Denpasar (DPS) cancelled.
Emirates EK368 STA 16:30 WITA (1 March) Dubai (DXB) to Denpasar (DPS) cancelled.
Emirates EK398 STA 22:20 WITA (1 March) Dubai (DXB) to Denpasar (DPS) cancelled.
Qatar Airways QR960 STA 22:50 WITA (1 March) Doha (DOH) to Denpasar (DPS) cancelled.
Qatar Airways QR961 STA 05:10 WITA (2 March) Doha (DOH) to Denpasar (DPS) cancelled.
Emirates EK368 STA 16:30 WITA (2 March) Dubai (DXB) to Denpasar (DPS) cancelled.
Emirates EK398 STA 22:20 WITA (2 March) Dubai (DXB) to Denpasar (DPS) cancelled.