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Investor Daily - Terminal khusus dorong kualitas penerbangan international
19 May 2025
By Ichsan Amin
Jakarta, ID – The dedicated Hajj and Umrah terminal at Terminal 2F of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport is expected to be developed at other airports across the country. Member of the House of Representatives Commission V, Sudjatmiko, stated that implementing a similar terminal model in multiple Indonesian airports could enhance the quality and service of international flights.
"For example, I believe the dedicated Hajj terminal offers excellent services for Hajj and Umrah flights. Everything is facilitated from the start, including immigration and other permits required by Saudi Arabia. This ensures faster processing before pilgrims arrive in their destination country," he explained, as quoted by Antara on Friday (16/05/2025).
He commended the recent inauguration of the dedicated Hajj and Umrah terminal at Terminal 2F of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. He hopes similar terminal models can be introduced at all Hajj embarkation points in Indonesia. "However, it should not be limited to Hajj flights—perhaps this concept could also be applied to other international flights," he added.
On Tuesday (13/5), Miko visited the terminal. During his visit, he observed firsthand how the dedicated Hajj and Umrah terminal benefits pilgrims by providing swift and convenient services.
Sudjatmiko noted that establishing this special terminal marks a significant advancement in serving departing Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. He further highlighted that the terminal was built following his proposal during a Commission V hearing with the Ministry of Transportation last November.
"Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God), this facility has been established, and I hope it will be properly maintained and managed. Hajj and Umrah services should be on par with VIP services," he stated.
Miko observed that the zoning system within the terminal functions efficiently, ensuring greater convenience for pilgrims. He also praised the improved departure efficiency, allowing pilgrims to complete the entire process—from leaving the Hajj dormitory to passing immigration—within just two hours.
Immigration counter
One of the key advancements Miko highlighted is the presence of a direct Saudi Arabian immigration counter at Soekarno-Hatta Airport. According to him, this accelerates departure procedures by eliminating the need for pilgrims to undergo immigration processing upon arrival in Saudi Arabia.
Sudjatmiko also emphasised the importance of catering to elderly pilgrims, who make up a significant portion of travellers. He suggested that airports provide more senior-friendly signage and improve staff assistance to help elderly pilgrims reunite with their groups if they become lost.
"Our pilgrims are mostly elderly. Often, they walk to the toilet but forget how to return to their queue. This is where staff assistance becomes crucial," he explained.
Furthermore, he urged the Ministry of Transportation, as the primary authority alongside PT Angkasa Pura, to establish similar facilities at other Hajj embarkation airports, including Surabaya, Medan, Makassar, Palembang, and Solo.
Earlier, Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi stated that the dedicated Hajj and Umrah terminal at Terminal 2F of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport significantly improves travel convenience and comfort for pilgrims.
"The dedicated Hajj and Umrah terminal will enhance services for pilgrims, ensuring a more comfortable journey and helping them focus on their worship," he noted.
Terminal 2F consists of three levels, covering a total area of 27,400 square metres, with an annual capacity of 6.1 million passengers. In addition to infrastructure upgrades, the revitalisation of Terminal 2F includes supporting facilities for Umrah activities, such as a mosque with a lounge and dedicated bus parking.
Terminal 2F features 20 check-in counters and a spacious waiting area accommodating pilgrims and their families during passenger processing. The terminal also includes an Umrah lounge capable of hosting up to 3,000 people.
Plans to develop Terminal 1F at Soekarno-Hatta Airport
Meanwhile, the government, through the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), has announced phased plans to develop Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (Soetta). Minister of SOEs Brick Thohir stated that following the inauguration of the Dedicated Hajj and Umrah Terminal at Terminal 2F, the next phase will focus on upgrades to Terminal 1.
"The low-cost Terminal 1F, God willing, will be inaugurated in the first quarter of 2026," Brick stated at the recent inauguration of the dedicated Hajj and Umrah terminal at Soekarno-Hatta Airport.
According to Brick, the renovation of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport aims to boost passenger capacity to 94 million annually. "Following Terminal 2F, Terminal 1 will also undergo upgrades to accommodate low-cost flights," he added.
Currently, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport has a total capacity of 56 million passengers per year. Optimising each terminal is expected to increase total passenger capacity to 90 million annually.
The terminal redesign at Indonesia’s busiest airport is aimed at improving passenger comfort, as airports serve as the first and last impression for international travellers.
Citilink, which was originally based at Terminal 3, commenced operations at Terminal 1 on 15 March 2025. Following this transition, TransNusa is also set to relocate after Eid 2025.
PT Aviasi Pariwisata Indonesia (Persero), or InJourney, through its subsidiary PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia (InJourney Airports), initially planned to transfer all low-cost carrier (LCC) operations to Terminal 1 by the end of 2025. However, this transition will be carried out gradually, in line with terminal revitalisation efforts.
As a reference, several ASEAN airports also feature dedicated LCC terminals. In May 2014, Malaysia inaugurated Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) as a hub for budget airlines, replacing the previous Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT), which was repurposed as a cargo service terminal.
Meanwhile, aviation analyst Gatot Rahardjo remarked that revitalising departure terminals at other airports based on Terminal 2F’s model could be feasible if funding from InJourney Airports is available.
However, he stressed that applying a specialised international travel concept, similar to the Hajj pilgrimage, to other international routes would require bilateral agreements. "For international travel beyond Hajj, such as simplified immigration procedures to the destination country, agreements between both nations are essential," he concluded in an interview with Investor Daily.
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