Last Wednesday marked a new era for travel between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, with Saudia Airlines launching two new routes connecting Medan-Kualanamu to Jeddah and Medina. The flights, which depart four times a week from Sumarta Airport in Indonesia, aim to facilitate the travel of passengers wishing to perform Umrah or Hajj, the holy pilgrimages of Islam.
Faisal Alallah, Saudia’s country manager in Indonesia, highlighted the importance of the new routes, saying they represent a significant step in the airline’s commitment to serving the needs of Indonesian pilgrims. “These flights are not just air connections, they are a bridge between the faithful and the holiest places of their faith,” he said at the launch ceremony.
Abdulrahman S. Lahmadi, Saudia Airlines’ Director of Sales for Southeast Asia, added that the launch of these flights comes with a special program for the airline’s travel agency partners. The program includes attractive offers for the agencies and their clients, which is expected to boost religious tourism and strengthen trade and cultural ties between the two countries.
The new air routes are planned to meet the growing demand for religious travel from Indonesia, the country with the largest Muslim population in the world. They provide a more direct and comfortable travel option for the thousands of Indonesians who travel to Saudi Arabia each year for the rites of Umrah and Hajj.
