House of Representatives Committee VIII Chairman Marwan Dasopang proposed that the government prepare a Hajj flight route scenario across Africa if the conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate. Marwan believes that this option should be considered to avoid conflict-prone areas.
“It is also impossible for the congregation to linger (waiting to leave). There must be alternatives, for example, it is possible to divert flights from Africa,” said Marwan at the Senayan Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Friday (6/3/2026).
“So fly from Jeddah to Nairobi and then towards, yes, basically towards Africa, right over the sea, not on the edges of the islands,” he continued.

According to him, the government must coordinate with the different parties to prepare for this scenario. Including airlines and other service providers for Hajj.
“Our government will encourage us to coordinate with all parties, including those mentioned above, if there is a loss of paid services, there are flights, there are hotels, there is consumption, then there is Masyair in Armuzna,” he said.
“Because of this, it will be very difficult from a financial point of view to do the Hajj next year. Of course, the pilgrims who are leaving now, when the money is exhausted, the government must succeed in convincing the different parties,” he continued.

Marwan said changing air routes could potentially increase the operational costs of the Hajj. Because the flight duration will be longer than the normal route.
“I think there is (an increase in costs), because the duration of the flight is getting longer. If so far it has been 10 to 8 hours, or Aceh 6 hours, it will definitely be longer because the route is circular,” he explained.
However, he said air routes that cross Africa cannot pass directly through certain regions like Yemen. Because, he said, this area was avoided due to the unstable security situation.

“Because if we look at the maps, we read that from Africa you cannot fly over Yemen, because Yemen itself has been avoided all this time, because there is always an escalation which makes flying dangerous,” he explained.

“So we will be further to the right when we return from Saudi Arabia, or if we leave, the choice is to be further to the left, where the high seas pass,” he continued.
Marwan said the government needs to re-discuss funding sources so as not to burden the congregation if operational costs of the Hajj increase due to the change in route. According to him, Hajj fund management institutions also have limits to cover rising costs.
“If, for example, the budget swells, we have to negotiate again who will charge it? I think the BPKH finances must cover or let’s say bail it out, I don’t think they have the capacity, because their financial capacity is just a pilgrimage. If it is spent, I think there will be problems during our Hajj,” he said.

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