Prabowo Reduces Hajj Costs by Rp2 Million Amid Rising Avtur Prices: To Protect the Underprivileged

President Prabowo Subianto has reduced the cost of the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage by Rp2 million. This is regarded by Prabowo as a courageous decision amid the rising price of avtur.

“What we have decided is, which I can announce now, is the implementation of the Hajj for 2026, unless the Saudi Arabian government decides otherwise; if we proceed, we ensure that the Hajj cost for 2026 will be reduced by around Rp2 million,” stated Prabowo in his address at the Government Working Meeting at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday, 8 April 2026.

Prabowo explained that the aim of lowering Hajj costs while avtur prices rise is to protect the public, particularly prospective Hajj pilgrims.

“Even though avtur prices are rising, we dare to lower the Hajj price for this year. This is the government’s commitment to protecting the most underprivileged people,” he said.

Previously reported, domestic avtur prices experienced a sharp surge at the beginning of April 2026. The adjustment to aircraft fuel prices is linked to the thinning energy supply due to the escalation of conflict in the Middle East, which shows no signs of abating.

Before the Indonesian government raised avtur prices, jet fuel prices in the United States (US) had skyrocketed by up to 95% since before the war in the Middle East. According to data from the Argus U.S. Jet Fuel Index published by Airlines for America, it jumped from US$2.50 per gallon on 27 February 2026 to US$4.88 per gallon on 2 April 2026.

This amount is equivalent to nearly US$205 or approximately Rp3,490,740 (estimated exchange rate of Rp17,030 per US dollar) per barrel, as cited from The Hill on Monday, 6 April 2026. The impact has led to increased airline ticket prices and the cancellation of thousands of flights, as airlines must bear the surge in operational costs, causing heavy pressure on the aviation industry.

A similar situation has occurred in Indonesia. Based on Pertamina data on Monday, 6 April 2026, avtur prices at various airports have surged significantly, even approaching 70%.

At Soekarno-Hatta Airport (CGK), previously the location with the cheapest price, it rose from Rp13,656.51 to Rp23,551.08 per litre. At Kualanamu Airport (KNO), the avtur price increased from Rp14,925.33 per litre to Rp24,819.90 per litre.