"Alhamdulillah (praise be to God), today marks the first time Umrah pilgrims are flying directly from Pekanbaru to Jeddah without any transits," Wahid said at Sultan Syarif Kasim II International Airport in Pekanbaru.
The governor explained that the new route was established in response to concerns over previous Umrah travel arrangements, which required multiple transits and made the journey long and exhausting.
"Hopefully, this marks the beginning of better services for religious pilgrims," he added.
The direct flight is scheduled to operate once a week, allowing up to 1,000 pilgrims from Riau to travel to Jeddah each month without the inconvenience of transiting.
According to Wahid, the initiative is not only a practical solution but also reflects the regional government's commitment to meeting the community’s spiritual needs.
"Transit flights can be tiring. Now, it only takes a day. The flight departs at 11 a.m. local time and arrives in Jeddah at 6 p.m. local time. Pilgrims won't lose much time and can begin their worship feeling more refreshed," he said.
He added that the initiative is a concrete example of how public services can be improved through cross-sector collaboration.
Related news: Russia seeks direct flights, easier tourism ties with Indonesia
Related news: Govt plans direct international flights to tourism SEZs
Translator: Primayanti
Editor: Anton Santoso
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
