Newsroom

GORONTALO, May 23, 2025 — Lion Air announces the successful completion of operations for the Embarkasi Hajj Antara (EHA) service from Gorontalo Province to the main embarkation point in Makassar, South Sulawesi. Through this scheme, 970 prospective Hajj pilgrims were successfully transported in 5 flights from Djalaluddin Airport, Gorontalo (GTO) to Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport, Makassar (UPG).

This initiative is part of Lion Air's commitment to making Hajj travel more accessible for communities across various regions, including those in central Indonesia. All departing pilgrims came from 1 city (Gorontalo) and 5 regencies: Gorontalo, Boalemo, Bone Bolango, North Gorontalo, and Pohuwato.

Lion Air operated modern-generation Boeing 737-900ER aircraft, which accommodate up to 215 economy class passengers with a comfortable layout and adherence to Hajj flight safety standards.

Elderly and Disability-Friendly

In line with the 2025 Hajj theme, “Elderly and Disability-Friendly Hajj,” Lion Air applied an inclusive and humane approach, including:

• Provision of wheelchairs and dedicated pathways at departure and transit airports • Cabin crew and ground staff training to assist elderly and disabled pilgrims • Priority boarding, comfortable seating arrangements, and efficient, secure baggage handling

Lion Air extends its gratitude and appreciation to the Provincial Government of Gorontalo, the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, airport management (Angkasa Pura), AirNav Indonesia, and all partners who contributed to the smooth execution of this service.

For each departure, Lion Air carried out standardized Hajj operational procedures, including schedule adjustments, manifest and health checks, and orderly, coordinated departures.

Lion Air hopes that every Hajj journey starting from Gorontalo becomes a solemn and meaningful spiritual experience. Thank you for the trust, and may your Hajj be blessed and fulfilling.

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