TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Umrah travel agents in the City of Palembang, South Sumatra, are thrilled with the news of the reopening of the Palembang-Madinah direct flight.

"Based on the information from Palembang's Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin (SMB) II Airport, a direct flight to Saudi Arabia is reopened on August 9, 2023, this is good news as it will ease the travel of the people planning to go to Umrah trip," said the management of Palembang travel agent, Travel Lovina Anita Silviani, on Saturday, July 22.

The travel agent said the direct flights to Jeddah and Madinah were once operable before the pandemic.

In the past two years, the Umrah pilgrims from South Sumatra must transit to Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta Airport and then to Singapore before flying to Jeddah or Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

The reopening of the Palembang - Madinah direct flight will definitely ease the people who plan to go on an Umrah trip as it will be more efficient and practical in terms of finance and travel time.

It is hoped that more airlines would open direct flights to Saudi Arabia as the number of Umrah pilgrims departing from this region could reach thousands of people, according to the Umrah travel agent management.

State airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II of the Palembang chapter previously reported to the South Sumatra Governor about the reopening direct route from Palembang to Saudi Arabia on August 9. Governor Herman Deru welcomed the decision delightfully, saying that it would ease the people of the province in traveling for Umrah.

"Direct flights to Saudi Arabia and ASEAN neighboring countries must soon be opened, so it will ease Umrah and business travels, as well as other activities of the people," the South Sumatra Governor remarked.

Antara

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