Old planes sidelined in haj mission

JAKARTA: In a bid to improve service and safety, the government has banned planes made before 1984 from carrying haj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia next year.

Garuda president director Indra Setiawan said on Thursday the new standard was set after a request by the Ministry of Religious Affairs. During haj season last year the government tolerated the use of planes made in 1980.

For the next season, Garuda will transport half of some 200,000 Indonesian pilgrims.

Garuda has planned to lease up to 16 Boeing B747s, but will not use its B747 SP, Boeing B767-300 or Airbus 330 for the haj pilgrims. All the aircraft will be chartered for three months between Jan. 2 and March 23, 2003, with the contract covering crews, maintenance and insurance.

Indra said the tender for the haj mission opened late in July, with the winners set to be announced in October at the latest. -- Antara