Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — The second phase of Indonesian Haj pilgrims started landing in Jeddah with the arrival of the first contingent from Makassar embarkation point.

Garuda Indonesia GA1118 carrying 455 passengers on board touched down safely at King Abdulaziz International Airport at 3:20 a.m. on Saturday after an 11-hour flight from Makasar’s Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in South Sulawesi.

The pilgrims were received by Indonesian Deputy Chief of Mission to Saudi Arabia Dicky Yunus, Indonesian Consul General Mohamad Hery Saripudin, head of the Indonesian Haj organizing committee Endang Jumali, head of the airport service team Arsyad Hidayat and officers from the consulate in Jeddah and Indonesian Haj Committee.

A ceremony was organized to welcome the first batch landing in Jeddah. The pilgrims were also served with Indonesian meal for breakfast.

As many as 529 flights consisting of Garuda Indonesia and Saudia Airlines have been transporting the pilgrims, 296 of whom will carry a total of 120,500 passengers landing in Jeddah during the period of July 20 till Aug. 6.

Elaborate arrangements have been put in place to receive the pilgrims at both airports, Madinah's Prince Muhammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport and Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport.

As many as 808 Haj personnel and officers from Indonesia Religious Affairs Ministry and 308 health-care professionals from Health Ministry have been deployed to assist the pilgrims.

Around 231,000 Indonesian pilgrims are expected to perform Haj this year including an additional quota 10,000 granted by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman.

The increased quota of the Indonesian Haj pilgrims will hopefully cut the long waiting list which has currently reached 40 years.