JAKARTA - With the Haj resuming after a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19, 6 airports under the management of Angkasa Pura I were ready to return serving embarkation and debarkation flights for prospective Hajj pilgrims in 2022. The 6 Airports have been designated by the Government to serve hajj embarkation and debarkation included Adi Soemarmo Airport - Solo (SOC), Juanda Airport - Surabaya (SUB), Sultan Hasanuddin Airport - Makassar (UPG), SAMS Sepinggan Airport - Balikpapan (BPN), Syamsudin Noor Airport - Banjarmasin (BDJ), and Zainuddin Abdul Madjid Airport - Lombok ( LOP).
“Angkasa Pura I's airports together with all relevant stakeholders are committed to supporting the success and smooth implementation of the 2022 Hajj embarkation and debarkation at 6 managed airports by prioritizing the principles of safety, security, services and compliance, including the implementation of the Covid-19 health protocols,” Angkasa Pura I's President Director Faik Fahmi said.
Angkasa Pura I predicts that the airports will serve up to 46,881 prospective hajj pilgrims during the 2022 hajj period from June 4 to August 13, 2022. The embarkation and debarkation flights for prospective hajj pilgrims will be served by 2 airlines, Garuda Indonesia and Saudi Arabia Airlines.
Garuda Indonesia will serve Hajj embarkation & debarkation at Adi Soemarmo Airport in Solo, Sultan Hasanuddin Airport in Makassar, SAMS Sepinggan Airport in Balikpapan, Syamsudin Noor Airport in Banjarmasin, and Zainuddin Abdul Madjid Airport in Lombok using the 360-seater Airbus A330-300 and the 393-seater Boeing B-777. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia Airlines will serve the hajj embarkation & debarkation at Juanda Airport in Surabaya using the 450-seater Boeing B747-400.
As an airport operator, Angkasa Pura I has prepared measures to ensure smooth operations and services in accordance with applicable provisions. The measures included adjusting airport operating hours, ensuring the readiness of personnel & HR and preparing flight security equipment at the Hajj Dormitory such as Baggage & Cabin X-Ray, Cyber Light, Under Mirror, Walk Through Metal Detector (WTMD), Hand Held Metal Detector (HHMD), to alert a security vehicle to accompany the bus for prospective pilgrims to the airside.
“We have also prepared anticipatory steps in the event of an emergency caused by natural disasters to force majeure. All Angkasa Pura I’s airports have Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), Airport Emergency Plan, Airport Security Program, Safety Management System Manual such as the Airport Disaster Management Plan (ADMP) as a guideline for operational handling in the event of natural disasters, emergencies & force majeure at the airports during the Hajj flight period,” Faik Fahmi explained.
Based on the decision of the Directorate General of Hajj & Umrah Organization, the airports will 121 flying groups (kloters) through 6 managed airports. The details for each group at each airport are Adi Soemarmo Airport serving 43 groups, Juanda Airport in Surabaya serving 38 groups, Sultan Hasanuddin Airport in Makassar serving 19 groups, SAMS Sepinggan Airport in Balikpapan serving 8 groups, Syamsudin Noor Airport in Banjarmasin serving 7 groups and Zainuddin Airport Abdul Madjid in Lombok serving 6 groups.
“Angkasa Pura I's airports makes this year’s hajj flight a momentum for performance recovery from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. We are optimistic that we can achieve the targets set by the end of 2022 along with the improvement in the aviation & tourism industry and the controlled Covid-19 cases,” Faik added.
