PPIH Makassar Welcomes Final Hajj Flight and Concludes 2026 Operations
Makassar - The Makassar Debarkation Hajj Organising Committee (PPIH) has welcomed the 43rd flight group (Kloter), which marks the final group of the season and the official conclusion of Hajj operations for the 1447 Hijri/2026 AD season.
The Chairman of the Makassar Embarkation/Debarkation PPIH, H. Ikbal Ismail, expressed his appreciation in Makassar on Thursday to all officials who assisted in managing the Hajj pilgrimage until the final group arrived.
“Thank you for the dedication of all officials. Alhamdulillah, the Hajj pilgrims have returned to the homeland safely. This is the result of the cooperation and devotion of all parties,” he stated.
The final group arrived at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport at 16:52 WITA via Garuda Indonesia flight GIA 1443. A total of 244 individuals arrived, consisting of 242 pilgrims and two officials.
Out of the total 246 people who departed, there were two empty seats. One pilgrim from Soppeng Regency underwent a transfer (tanazul) to Group 41, while another from Wajo Regency is still undergoing medical treatment at King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah.
The handover ceremony was attended by the Assistant I for Government and Welfare of Takalar Regency, H. Muhammad Ikbal; the Acting Head of the Ministry of Hajj Regional Office for Southeast Sulawesi, H. Muhammad Lalan Jaya; the Head of the Ministry of Hajj Regional Office for West Sulawesi; various heads of district/city Hajj offices; and local government representatives from Takalar, Wajo, Pinrang, Pangkep, and Central Mamuju.
Ikbal also offered apologies to all pilgrims if there were any shortcomings during the service process. He noted that feedback from pilgrims will serve as material for evaluation to improve service quality for the next Hajj season.
During the event, Ikbal officially closed the operations of the Makassar Debarkation for the 1447 H/2026 M Hajj season.
“With the arrival of Group 43, we declare the operations of the Makassar Debarkation officially ended. Thank you to all parties who have contributed to the success of this year’s Hajj implementation,” he said.
Overall, the Makassar Embarkation/Debarkation dispatched 16,728 prospective pilgrims and officials. By the time operations closed, 16,685 people had returned to the country. The difference of 43 people consists of 37 who passed away in Saudi Arabia and six others who are still undergoing medical treatment.
With the return of Group 43, the Makassar Debarkation has completed the return services for pilgrims from South Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, Maluku, and North Maluku. This also concludes the Hajj operational series for 2026, alongside pilgrims from Papua and West Papua provinces, with a focus on evaluating services to ensure even more professional, safe, and comfortable care for the pilgrims in the future.