Jakarta. Escalating military tensions in the Middle East are disrupting international aviation routes, forcing several airlines to cancel flights and reroute services, although Indonesian umrah pilgrims returning directly from Saudi Arabia have so far managed to arrive home safely.

Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi on Monday urged international airlines operating routes to or across the Middle East to increase vigilance as the conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States begins affecting flight operations worldwide.

“Some international flights passing through the Middle East have been affected, with several cancelled. We urge airlines to increase vigilance and passengers to actively monitor the latest information,” Dudy said in an official statement.

Several countries, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, and Syria, have temporarily closed their airspace to all commercial and private flights, worsening disruptions to international aviation routes.

A number of foreign airlines have suspended or canceled services to and from Middle Eastern cities as tensions escalated. The affected carriers include Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, IndiGo, SriLankan Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Scoot.

Meanwhile, Saudia Airlines continues monitoring operations in several destinations in the region. Oman Air is still operating normally, while Ethiopian Airlines remains in service but has suspended flights to Amman, Jordan, and Tel Aviv, Israel.

Two Indonesian carriers whose routes pass through Middle Eastern airspace, Garuda Indonesia and Lion Air, have not been directly affected so far. Flights to Jeddah continue to operate normally, although Garuda has rerouted its Amsterdam-bound service through Cairo, Egypt, to avoid conflict zones.

Dudy said aviation safety and security remain the government’s top priority. The Transportation Ministry is coordinating closely with AirNav Indonesia, airlines, airport operators, and foreign aviation authorities to monitor developments and update safety information.

Authorities have also instructed airlines and airport operators to provide full assistance to affected passengers, including immigration document handling for canceled trips, accommodation arrangements, and flight rescheduling.

“We are ensuring that international flight operations at all airports across Indonesia continue to run safely, smoothly, and optimally, both for departures and arrivals,” Dudy said.

Despite rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, Indonesian umrah pilgrims returning directly from Saudi Arabia reported smooth journeys home.

Several pilgrims arrived safely at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Banten without significant disruption. “Thank God the flight went smoothly according to schedule at 08.20 a.m. Everything was on time and there were no delays,” said Maicel Syah, a returning pilgrim who flew from Madinah to Jakarta.

Another pilgrim, Muhammad Aminullah, said he initially felt anxious after reading reports about escalating tensions in the region. “After checking the flight schedule, thankfully there were no delays when we departed, although we were quite nervous because tensions in the Middle East were rising,” he said.

According to Aminullah, most disruptions were experienced by passengers with transit routes through Middle Eastern hubs. “When we arrived at Jeddah Airport, many flights were canceled, especially those with transit routes to Qatar, Turkey, Abu Dhabi, and the Emirates,” he said. “Almost all of them were suspended. Fortunately, our flight with Saudia Airlines was a direct service to Jakarta, so it remained safe without delays.”

He also expressed concern that prolonged conflict could disrupt the upcoming hajj season. “War brings no benefit and instead causes losses for many people. With the hajj season approaching, the conflict could have a major impact on Muslims planning to perform the pilgrimage,” Aminullah said.

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