Umrah Pilgrimage: Authority Requests Qatar Airways to Reinstate Operation at Kualanamu Airport
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14 August 2024 11:39 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of the Medan Airport Authority Office, North Sumatra, Sokhib Al Rokhman has requested Qatar Airways to reinstate its Umrah flight services from Kualanamu Airport with a transit in Doha to Medina and Jeddah.
"Umrah flights declined approaching the Hajj season. However, Umrah flights are picking up again so we’re asking Qatar (Airways) to start reinstating its operation,” said Sokhib in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra on Tuesday, August 13, 2024.
According to him, Qatar Airways has been operating at Kualanamu International Airport since January 15, 2024, before halting its operation on June 1.
Using a wide-body aircraft, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, flight number QR966 serves the Doha-Kualanamu route three times a week; Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. "They’re currently still evaluating the first-semester performance in Kualanamu Airport,” he said. “Qatar operated here for business, not for Umrah specifically. They hope to attract North Sumatran residents to travel to Europe.”
Sokhib, however, acknowledged that his side could not force Qatar Airways to reinstate their operation at Kualanamu International Airport.
Qatar Airways boarded North Sumatran passengers to Europe through a transit at Hamad Doha Airport in Qatar, said Sokhib. PT Angkasa Pura Aviasi, the manager of Kualanamu International Airport stated that three airlines, namely Lion Air, Citilink, and Saudia Airlines serve Umrah flights to Saudi Arabia.
"Prospective Umrah pilgrims have a choice of flight departures since the three airlines have scheduled departure almost every day,” said Head of Corporate Secretary & Legal of Kualanamu International Airport Dedi Al Subur.
Lion Air and Citilink which have been operating since last July, and Saudia Airlines will start operating on August 31, 2024. Lion Air flight number JT 084 on the Kualanamu (KNO)-Madinah (MED) route uses an Airbus A333 aircraft which flies four times a week. Citilink QG 8504 on the Kualanamu (KNO)-Madinah (MED) route, and QG 8524 on the Kualanamu (KNO)-Jeddah (JED) route uses an Airbus A333 aircraft and have a total flight frequency of three times a week.
"Saudia Airlines SV 873 and SV 877 Kualanamu (KNO)-Madinah (MED), as well as SV 875 and SV 879 Kualanamu (KNO)-Jeddah (JED) using a Boeing B77W aircraft fly a total of four times a week," said Dedi.
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