The COVID-19 Task Force has issued Circular Letter No. 25 of 2022—reinforced by the Minister of Home Affairs Instruction No. 42 of 2022 and the Minister of Transportation Circular Letter No. 88 of 2022—designating Kertajati International Airport in West Java as an entry point for international travel.
"These Umrah flights will be facilitated by Garuda and Lion Air, both of which have confirmed their readiness to operate direct flights from Kertajati to Jeddah. Plans are in place for Lion Air to operate four flights per week, while Garuda will operate one flight per week, resulting in a total of five flights weekly," stated Dian Nurrahman, Vice President of Corporate Secretary at PT BIJB.
Dian added that to accelerate preparations for the Umrah flights, the company held a "Travel Gathering" on August 4, 2022. Attended by Umrah travel agents, airlines, regulators, and airport operators, the event resulted in a consensus among all parties to support the operation of Umrah flights via Kertajati Airport. Furthermore, committed travel agencies—hailing not only from the Ciayumajakuning region but also from Bandung—are ready to support and utilize Kertajati's flight services.
Concurrently, the Malaysian international carrier Malaysia Airlines (MH) has expressed its willingness to the Kertajati International Airport operator to serve the Kuala Lumpur–Kertajati international route (round-trip).
With the involvement of these three airlines, Kertajati International Airport is expected to see a surge in international flight activity, including the Umrah flights eagerly awaited by pilgrims across West Java. “We always prioritize communication and coordination; therefore, we have coordinated with the Ministry of Transportation, airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II, Customs, Immigration, Quarantine, Pertamina, tenants, multimodal operators, Umrah travel agents, and all stakeholders supporting Umrah operations and international flights at Kertajati Airport. We have even coordinated with the Executive Office of the President, which consistently supports flight operations at Kertajati, to ensure that the upcoming Umrah flights proceed smoothly. We will also soon coordinate with local governments and the surrounding Ciayumajakuning region to garner support for this plan,” said Dian Nurrahman.
Beyond coordination with the aforementioned stakeholders, the readiness of other supporting facilities—such as airport-vicinity hotels, hospitals, and infrastructure essential for smooth flight operations at Kertajati Airport—is also crucial.
Data from the Ministry of Religious Affairs' Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah Organization for the year 1444H (2022) indicates a potential pool of 8,657 Umrah pilgrims from the Kertajati Airport catchment area who have not yet departed.
With the commencement of Umrah and international flight operations, Kertajati International Airport is set to once again become a hub and economic magnet for the West Java region.