TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Garuda readies 14 aircraft for hajj pilgrims
National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has prepared 14 wide-body aircraft to fly hajj pilgrims to Mecca, after signing a memorandum of understanding with the Religious Affairs Ministry.
Change Size
Garuda Indonesia president director Pahala N. Mansury (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
N
ational flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has prepared 14 wide-body aircraft to fly hajj pilgrims to Mecca, after signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Religious Affairs Ministry on Monday.
The 14 aircraft consists of three Boeing 747-400s, five Boeing 777-300 ERs and six Airbus 330-300/200s.
Religious Affairs Ministry hajj management director general H Nizar expressed the hope that Garuda would be able to provide their best service to hajj pilgrims, because transportation played a vital role in the success of the annual pilgrimage.
“We want to ensure the smooth process in the implementation of this year's hajj pilgrimage,” Nizar said on Monday in Jakarta after signing the MoU with Garuda Indonesia president director Pahala N. Mansury.
In response, Pahala stressed that the airline had prepared the best fleet to transport 107,000 out of 221.000 total hajj pilgrims this year.
The 107,000 hajj pilgrims are grouped in 278 flights and will depart from nine hajj airports in Aceh, Medan, Padang, Jakarta, Surakarta, Banjarmasin, Balikpapan, Makassar and Lombok.
“Learning from last year's organization in transporting the hajj pilgrims, during which the flight schedule was accurate by over 95 percent, we are optimistic about our preparedness and that transporting this year's hajj pilgrims will proceed smoothly,” added Pahala.
He said Garuda had also prepared a variety of inflight hajj services, including Islamic entertainment and regional menus adjusted to passengers' point of origin. (bbn)
