Garuda Indonesia Prepares for Hajj 2024 with 14 Wet-Leased Aircraft

Garuda Indonesia, the flag carrier of Indonesia, has announced its preparation for the Hajj pilgrimage in 2024 by confirming plans to wet-lease 14 aircraft to accommodate the increased demand for flights to Jeddah International and Madinah from Indonesia. This strategic move aims to enhance the airline’s widebody capacity, ensuring a comfortable and efficient travel experience for pilgrims.

In a statement to ch-aviation, a Garuda Indonesia spokesperson revealed, “We will operate 14 aircraft for the Hajj, including A330-300s and B777-300ERs, to transport 109,000 pilgrims this year.” The airline’s proactive approach includes issuing four Requests for Proposals in recent months, seeking B777, A330, or B747 aircraft capable of flying directly to Jeddah and Medina without technical stops. The lease term for these aircraft is slated between May 13 and July 21, 2024.

Although the specific operators of the ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) jets have not been disclosed, this announcement underscores Garuda Indonesia’s commitment to supporting the annual Islamic pilgrimage by ensuring ample capacity and operational readiness.

Garuda Indonesia’s current fleet, as detailed in the ch-aviation fleets module, consists of 74 aircraft, including five A330-200s, seventeen A330-300s, three A330-900Ns, forty-one B737-800s, and eight B777-300ERs. The addition of 14 wet-leased aircraft for the Hajj season represents a significant augmentation of the airline’s capability to serve this important religious event, highlighting its role in facilitating global religious travel.

This strategic initiative by Garuda Indonesia not only demonstrates the airline’s adaptability and commitment to meeting the needs of the Islamic community in Indonesia but also signifies its ongoing efforts to maintain high service standards while addressing the logistical challenges of the Hajj pilgrimage.