Lion Air (JT flight code) member of Lion Air Group, announced the reopening of Umrah flight services effective January 03, 2023, from West Sumatra through Minangkabau International Airport in Padang Pariaman (PDG) to: Medina – King Mohammad bin Abdul Aziz International Airport, Saudi Arabia (MED) Jeddah – King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Saudi Arabia (JED). Padang is the 6th embarkation after:
1. Jakarta – Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tangerang (CGK)
2. Surabaya – Juanda International Airport, East Java (SUB)
3. Kualanamu – Kualanamu International Airport in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra (KNO)
4. Makassar – Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport, South Sulawesi (UPG)
5. Majalengka – BIJB Kertajati International Airport, West Java (KJT).
The inaugural flight in early 2023 has marked by flying 328 pilgrims. For the convenience of guests from each region of origin, Lion Air has prepared cabin crew to help facilitate communication from the language aspect.
Lion Air flight number JT-082 took off from Minangkabau International Airport at 08.10 WIB (GMT+07) and has scheduled to arrive at King Mohammad bin Abdul Aziz International Airport at 13:22 local time (GMT+03).
The type of aircraft operated is the wide-body Airbus 330-900NEO (with a capacity of 436 economy class seats), which can serve non-stop with a travel time of up to 12 hours, so it is very appropriate to support Umrah flights from West Sumatra.
Lion Air offers services that include baggage, inflight meals, inflight meals available in business and economy class, inflight entertainment, religious music, and audio video at each seat. The aircraft design has the quietest cabin in its class. Spacious seat pitches and ergonomic seats increase the main features of the airspace cabin, and a new plan of the cabin luggage compartment (overhead bin) makes it easier to organize and store luggage in the aircraft cabin.
The Airbus 330 aircraft has a high level of security and safety. In ensuring the health aspect, the aircraft has equipped with a well-maintained air circulation system. The Lion Air aircraft has equipped with a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) or strong particle filter. The HEPA filter helps keep the air in the cabin clean and filters out more than 99.9% of viruses, germs, insects, and bacteria.
The aerial in the aircraft cabin is updated every 2-3 minutes, so it is fresher. The air cycle from the toilet (lavatory) and galley (galley) flows directly outside the aircraft.
Travel Ease and Safety Aspects
The implementation of 2023 umrah is a form of Lion Air’s sincerity in accommodating and facilitating the needs of worship travel. Lion Air always tries to serve pilgrims with the best service. Together with travel partners, Lion Air supports the implementation of worship in the holy land by offering easy connectivity.
Umrah flights through Minangkabau International Airport will help people from Padang, Padang Pariaman, Bukittinggi, and other areas. Lion Air would like to thank the regulator for the support and coordination, Minangkabau Airport manager – PT Angkasa Pura II, airport manager in Saudi Arabia, air traffic controller – AirNav Indonesia, travel partners (tour and travel) related parties in preparing and supporting the smooth running of Umrah pilgrims during flights. Umrah services strive for an on-time performance (OTP) level of more than (average) 94%.
This seriousness is in line with providing the best service to Umrah pilgrims. Regarding air travel, according to the safety aspect Lion Air has appealed to all pilgrims, among others, not to bring dangerous goods to the plane. Do not accept entrusted goods from other people onto the plane. Electronic goods must remove from the battery, and the use of a standalone charger or portable battery (power bank) must meet the criteria in terms of capacity that may be carried into the cabin and is not allowed to be used during flight.
Lion Air carries out operational conditions according to each country as international rules. This flight to Jeddah and Medina has carried out after Lion Air met all the qualifications and requirements of the Ministry of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia and the Saudi Arabian civil aviation authority or the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), including safety and security audits.