“I am requesting permission from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Indonesia to have a special Hajj terminal,” he spoke at the Government Working Meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, April 8.

The president explained that this terminal will be specifically for Indonesian pilgrims to allow for faster entry and exit during the pilgrimage season.

He also announced that starting this year, the maximum waiting period for Hajj pilgrims in Indonesia will be cut to 26 years from the previous 48 years.

“I will strive to make it even shorter,” Prabowo noted regarding the effort to reduce the waiting list for citizens.

The head of state also inquired with Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar regarding the Indonesian Hajj Village in Mecca alongside Danantara officials, represented by COO Dony Oskaria and CTO Sigit P Santosa.

The officials confirmed that the Indonesian government through Danantara has secured a total of 45 hectares of land for the project.

“We will build an Indonesian Hajj village, with a dozen towers, that can accommodate (Indonesian Hajj pilgrims),” Prabowo continued.

Regarding Hajj cost efficiency, the president summoned Garuda Indonesia President Director Glenny Kairupan to discuss a joint venture with Saudia Airlines.

According to him, the joint venture could help Indonesia reduce Hajj costs while simultaneously benefiting both national airlines.

“Garuda has been flying Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia and returning empty, which is inefficient, and Saudi flights bringing our pilgrims home also return empty, so we should cooperate by creating a subsidiary with 50 percent Indonesian and 50 percent Saudi ownership,” Prabowo remarked.

If this plan works, Garuda planes transporting Hajj pilgrims to the Holy Land will be able to return with passengers instead of flying empty.

The same applies to Saudi airlines which will be able to return to Saudi Arabia with passengers once they have completed transporting Indonesian pilgrims home.

The president also reminded Kairupan of the directive issued two months earlier and asked him to provide an update on its follow-up.

“Has it been implemented? I gave the order approximately two months ago. This must be done quickly. The Garuda President Director will meet me later,” Prabowo spoke to the official.

Credits: Indonesia

The post Indonesia requests dedicated Hajj terminal from Saudi Arabia first appeared on AircrewNews.com.

Essex Police, supported by officers from across the country, carried out a robust policing operation at the airport.

The operation was to ensure the safe arrival and departure of the President, the First Lady, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and members of the Trump family.

During the operation officers carried out a huge array of activity including vehicle searches, stop searches of individuals, patrols both day and night around the airport and its perimeter to ensure the safety of all travelling through.

Following the President’s departure from Stansted on Thursday evening, chief supt, Simon Anslow said: “At Essex Police we have robust and well-rehearsed plans to facilitate the movement of heads of state through Stansted.

“However we can never be complacent when it comes to the safety of VIPs or passengers and we have had a huge policing operation at Stansted this week to ensure the safety of all.

“I am grateful to London Stansted Airport staff and all the passengers who travelled through Stansted this week who helped us ensure our policing operation was carried out smoothly.

“I would also like to thank both my officers and the many who joined us from police forces across the country who worked tirelessly to support this operation.”

Credits: Stansted Airport

The post President Donald Trump has safely departed Stansted Airport first appeared on AircrewNews.com.