Tangerang (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has made several efforts to improve services for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, including the upgrade of Terminal 2F at Soekarno-Hatta (Soetta) International Airport, Tangerang, Banten.

The special Hajj and Umrah terminal has been prepared to improve the quality of services provided to Indonesian pilgrims.

PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia (InJourney Airports), the main manager of the airport since 2024, has carried out a comprehensive revitalization of the terminal, driven by the high demand for Umrah flights, with 2.2 million passengers taking the flights per year.

During the peak season in August and September, the number of passengers can even soar to 12 thousand per day.

As of May 1, 2025, all Hajj departure services have been opened at the 27,418-square-meter Terminal 2F, which has the capacity to serve 6.1 million passengers per year.

The special terminal for Hajj and Umrah is expected to ease congestion in the landside and terminal areas during the peak season, as well as increase the efficiency and effectiveness of airport operations.

"Given this fact, InJourney Airports developed the special Hajj and Umrah Terminal 2F, which provides facilities according to the characteristics and needs of the pilgrims," the general manager of PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia's Soekarno-Hatta Airport Branch Office, Dwi Ananda Wicaksana, said.

Host of facilities

Terminal 2F boasts several services and facilities for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, including a 3,136-square-meter mosque, a 4,158-square-meter waiting area, a lounge for 2 thousand pilgrims, a manasik area, and a space measuring 10 thousand sq. m for relatives accompanying the pilgrims.

In addition, modern technology has been applied to support departures and arrivals at the terminal.

Spread over three floors, the terminal also has green spaces and landscaped gardens.

The arrival area on the ground floor comprises the Makkah Route fast-track area for immigration, baggage handling, and a 2,930-square-meter food court.

The first floor of the terminal houses the departure area, welcome lounge, and security checkpoint. The mosque is located on the second floor.

"We hope that this mosque will make it easier for the pilgrims to perform their worship," said Wicaksana.

Fast-track immigration

Besides attractive and functional facilities, the airport management is providing the Makkah Route service, a Saudi Arabian immigration service that allows Hajj pilgrims to clear immigration quickly and easily.

The Makkah Route service is intended for Hajj pilgrims coming from the Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory embarkation point in Jakarta and West Java. Pilgrims from both Hajj dormitories are leaving for Saudi Arabia via the Soetta Airport terminal.

Under the service, three airlines are transporting Hajj pilgrims from Soetta Airport to the Holy Land, namely Garuda Indonesia, Saudia, and Lion Air.

In addition, several Saudi immigration counters have been set up under the Makkah Route facility. They can carry out the immigration pre-clearance process in about 60 seconds for each pilgrim

For 2025, Indonesia has received a total Hajj quota of 221 thousand. It consists of 203,320 regular Hajj and 17,680 special Hajj quotas.

Out of the regular quota, 190,897 spots are for pilgrims who depart as per their turn, while the rest are for priority elderly pilgrims, worship guides from the Hajj and Umrah Guidance Group (KBIHU), and Hajj officers from the regions.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs informed that as of early May 2025, visas for 187,773 regular Hajj pilgrims have been issued. Of the total 192,551 visa applications submitted, some are still awaiting approval from the Saudi Arabian authorities.

The government is committed to ensuring that each group gets a visa that suits their needs so that the Hajj pilgrimage this year can run smoothly.

These steps demonstrate the government's special attention to priority groups such as elderly pilgrims and officers appointed to assist the Hajj pilgrims.

Ready for Hajj

President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated Terminal 2F at Soetta Airport on May 4.

The inauguration marked the readiness of special services for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims at the largest airport in the country

President Prabowo lauded the collective work done by a number of related institutions in the revitalization project for the special Hajj and Umrah terminal.

He described the revitalization as an extraordinary achievement that will bring significant improvements in services for Indonesian Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.

"I think this is very good, extraordinary. This is a historic moment," Prabowo said.

The new terminal, which can accommodate more than 94 million people per year, is expected to serve a very large number of Indonesian Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.

Prabowo called the achievement an extraordinary feat that reflects the government's commitment to continuously improving the quality of public services.



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