REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin gave a send-off to the first group of Hajj pilgrims of Jakarta embarkation from the Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory in East Jakarta on Tuesday to the holy land.
"We are certainly grateful for the dispatch of the Hajj pilgrims on the first flight to the holy land in Saudi Arabia," Saifuddin remarked on Tuesday.
The first group of pilgrims arrived at the Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory on Monday and was bid farewell by the religious affairs minister to take the first flight to the holy land.
Saifuddin explained that 4,459 pilgrims across the country, divided into 11 flight groups, were dispatched simultaneously on Tuesday to Saudi Arabia.
Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi had remarked earlier that the Halim Perdanakusuma airport was ready to serve the Hajj pilgrim 2016 flights that were started on Tuesday.
"We have urged the airport management Angkasa Pura II and Garuda Indonesia to improve their services," the minister noted in his statement.
The minister called on the Directorate General of Air Transportation to continue coordinating with the Religion Ministry to provide the best services to the devout pilgrims.
The Hajj pilgrims have begun departing on August 9, and flights will continue to depart until September 5, 2016.
The flights will depart in two phases. The first batch of flights will depart between August 9 and 21, while the second batch will depart between August 21 and September 5.
A total of 48,186 Hajj pilgrims in 114 flight groups will depart for Mecca via the Halim Perdanakusuma airport.
These pilgrims hail from the provinces of Jakarta, West Java, Banten, and Lampung.
The airport management, a state-owned company, is providing the southern apron and runway for the aircraft used for the Hajj pilgrimage flights.
The ministry has also coordinated with relevant institutions, including the Hajj flight operator, the Indonesian flight carrier, Garuda Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia Airlines.
This year, Garuda will be providing 12 aircraft comprising Boeing 777 and 747 and Airbus A330.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia Airlines is providing Boeing 747 and Airbus A330 aircraft.
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