Holiday Ayo - Kertajati International Airport in Majalengka, West Java is planned to serve special flights for the pilgrimage. The airport, which was said to have been in suspended animation, has received the green light from the General Authority of Civil Aviation of Saudi Arabia or the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of Saudi Arabia to serve Hajj flights.

The GACA team has also conducted a feasibility test for Hajj flights from Kertajati Airport. From the results of this test, Saudi Arabia's GACA is said to have confirmed that Kertajati Airport was declared ready and suitable for holding Hajj flights in 2023.

"GACA sent a team to carry out an assessment of the airworthiness of the airport serving the 2023 Hajj flights. We have been visited by the GACA team again regarding a service readiness assessment at Kertajati Airport for hajj flights," said Vice President Corporate Secretary of PT West Java International Airport (BIJB) Dian Nurrahman, quoted from Antara.

Director General of Air Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation Maria Kristi Endah Murni said that her party is still waiting for an official letter regarding the results of the GACA feasibility test.

"Furthermore, GACA will send a letter of clearance to the Directorate General of Air Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation as proof of the results of the review and direct observation to Kertajati Airport," said Maria, Monday (20/2).

After the Ministry of Transportation receives the letter, there will be great potential for West Java pilgrims to depart for the holy land from Kertajati Airport in 2023.

"Surely it will be an honor for prospective pilgrims who come from West Java and its surroundings to be able to depart via Kertajati Airport, because it can save time and do not have to go all the way overland to Soekarno-Hatta Airport," said Maria Kristi.

Even though it is ready to be used for hajj flights, until now it is not certain that Kertajati Airport will become one of the hajj embarkations in Indonesia. The Ministry of Transportation is still holding in-depth talks with all stakeholders regarding plans to make Kertajati Airport one of the Hajj embarkations.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Transportation Adita Irawati said that her party had to coordinate with the Ministry of Religion and also the West Java Provincial Government to determine this.

"Still in talks. What is clear is that the airport for the embarkation of the haj requires coordination from various parties including the Ministry of Religion and the Provincial Government," said Adita.