"The Transportation Ministry had prepared the (necessary) support for Hajj pilgrims' departure," he noted in a statement on Friday.
Purwagandhi announced that three airlines -- Garuda Indonesia, Saudi Airlines, and Lion Air -- are providing transportation for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims this year.
Garuda Indonesia has readied 13 aircraft to serve departures and returns from the Aceh, Medan, Solo, Balikpapan, Makassar, Lombok embarkation points, and part of the Jakarta-Pondok Gede embarkation.
This year, Garuda Indonesia will transport 104,172 regular Hajj pilgrims and officers. These pilgrims are organized into 287 flight groups.
Meanwhile, Saudi Airlines will deploy 16 aircraft to transport 102,182 pilgrims and officers from the Batam, Palembang, Jakarta-Bekasi, Kertajati, Surabaya embarkations, and part of the Jakarta-Pondok Gede embarkation.
Related news: Changes to flight schedules for returning Hajj pilgrim groups: Garuda
Lion Air has prepared six aircraft to transport 11,762 Hajj pilgrims and officers from the Padang and Banjarmasin embarkations.
"In addition to airlines' readiness, we also ensure the readiness of embarkation and disembarkation airports. In total, there will be 14 airports serving as Hajj embarkation points this year," Purwagandhi explained.
A total of 221 thousand Hajj pilgrims will depart from all embarkation points in Indonesia, consisting of 203,320 regular Hajj pilgrims and 17,680 special Hajj pilgrims.
Departures and returns will take place in two waves, involving 528 groups.
The first wave of departures to Medina will occur on May 2-16, followed by the second wave to Jeddah on May 17-31, 2025.
Meanwhile, the first wave of return from Jeddah will be on June 11-25, and the second wave of return from Medina on June 26-July 10, 2025.
"We remind all pilgrims to comply with and follow all safety and security instructions, and do not forget to maintain their health condition," he stated.
Related news: Kertajati Airport to be W Java's Umrah flight hub: Sumadi
Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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