Qatar Airways umrah passengers will be transferred to flag carrier Garuda Indonesia. “We have a partnership with Qatar Airways. Some passengers to be carried from Jakarta to Saudi Arabia will be transferred to Garuda Indonesia, it expected to happen in a short term,” Garuda CEO Pahala Mansyuri told us yesterday, June 8. According to Pahala, the opportunity will be exploited by Garuda Indonesia to introduce its highly potential umrah services. The first phase will see the transfer of 45 Qatar Airways passengers in Jakarta-Saudi Arabia route. In the phase, around 150 passengers will be carried in the routes previously operated by Qatar Airways.
In a written statement issued Wednesday Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said that he has not revoked Qatar Airways flight license. The government will only transfer Indonesian umrah passengers using Qatar Airways to other airlines.
Budi said that the transfer will be done in the wake of the diplomatic row between Qatar and some other Gulf countries. The conflict has resulted in a ban on Qatar Airways from flying above Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, which is the destination country of hajj and umrah.
As for flights from and to Indonesia, Qatar Airways may still carry passengers as usual. “Qatar Airways can still serve flights from and to Indonesia and [passengers] may continue the travel to third countries aside from those having diplomatic issues with Qatar,” the minister said.