SEAToday.com, Jakarta-The governments of Indonesia and Saudi Arabia have strengthened their cooperation in the aviation sector by agreeing to expand flight routes between the two nations.

This move was formalized through a signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) during a meeting in Jakarta on Tuesday (4/30) between Indonesian Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi and Saudi Arabian Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah.

The revised MoU allows airlines from all international airports in Saudi Arabia to fly to major Indonesian airports, including Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, and Denpasar.  Similarly, airlines from all international airports in Indonesia can now fly to Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Medina, and Taif in Saudi Arabia.

Tawfiq emphasized this decision as Saudi Arabia's commitment to providing better service for Indonesian pilgrims undertaking Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. He noted that over 3,500 direct flights operated between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia last year, translating to roughly 10 daily flights.