"We must include Saudi Airlines as we adopt reciprocal principles. Under the principles, the airline company of a country to which Indonesian citizens are traveling is given a chance to carry them," Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government has named three airlines to carry Indonesian hajj pilgrims to the Holy Land this year, according to a minister.
The three airlines are Garuda Indonesia, Batavia Air, and Saudi Arabia Airlines, Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali said in the Presidential Palace compounds here Wednesday.
The participation of Saudi Airlines in the transportation of Indonesian hajj pilgrims is based on existing agreements, he said.
"We must include Saudi Airlines as we adopt reciprocal principles. Under the principles, the airline company of a country to which Indonesian citizens are traveling is given a chance to carry them," he said.
The minister said 48 percent of the Indonesian hajj pilgrims will travel with Saudi Airlines and 52 percent with Garuda Indonesia and Batavia Air to the hajj.
He noted that the government has yet to set the number of flights for this year. Nor has it decided on how to finance the flights.
More than 221,000 Indonesian Muslims performed the hajj pilgrimage in the Holy Land last year. The figure rose by 10,000 compared to one year earlier.
Currently, the government is seeking an additional hajj quota of 30,000 for this year.
"We have the desire, but it is the Saudi government that will decide. The hajj quota for each country is discussed at a convention of Islamic countries. So there is a rule about it," he said.
Muslims who can afford to attend, are required to perform the hajj pilgrimage once during their lifetime. ***3***
(S012/INE/b003/B003)
(T.SYS/B/KR-BSR/B003) 18-04-2012 19:50:32
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
