Indonesia has started designing its 2027 Hajj operation and is already reviewing the framework for 2028, with rising aviation fuel costs at the center of its early planning. The world's largest Hajj-sending country says it wants to lock in the financial structure long before pilgrims depart, so that fuel price swings do not push up the cost of the journey.

According to the state news agency ANTARA, the Indonesian Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Mochamad Irfan Yusuf, set out the approach in a press statement in Makkah on May 31, 2026. He said the ministry had begun planning for both 2027 and 2028 as an early step to anticipate operational and financial challenges.

Why Aviation Fuel Matters

Flight costs make up one of the largest contributors to the total Hajj Pilgrimage Cost, known in Indonesia as the BPIH. When the global price of aviation fuel, or avtur, rises, the cost of moving hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to and from Saudi Arabia rises with it.

"We have begun planning for (Hajj) 2027 and 2028. We have maximized budget efficiency in various areas. However, given the challenge of avtur prices, we are currently exploring various possible best-fit formulas," Yusuf said, according to ANTARA.

The minister noted that fuel price movements on the global market, combined with currency exchange rate shifts, feed directly into the bill that pilgrims ultimately pay. Without early mitigation, he warned, fuel spikes have the potential to significantly increase the portion of the cost borne directly by pilgrims.

How the Cost Is Shared

Indonesia spreads the cost of Hajj between pilgrims and a national fund. The Hajj Financial Management Agency, known as the BPKH, manages pilgrims' initial deposits to generate a benefit value, effectively a subsidy, that covers the gap between the real cost of Hajj and the amount each pilgrim pays.

The House of Representatives, the DPR RI, holds the authority to approve how those costs are divided. Yusuf said his office would continue to coordinate closely with both bodies, stressing that decisions must not harm pilgrims or undermine the sustainability of the Hajj fund.

He added that financial readiness is a crucial factor, particularly with the possibility of additional Hajj quotas in the future. Long-term planning, he said, is essential to secure competitive airline and accommodation contracts in Saudi Arabia and to keep the fund healthy enough to continue subsidizing the millions of pilgrims still on the waiting list.

What It Means for Pilgrims

For Indonesian pilgrims, the early planning signals an effort to keep next year's costs predictable rather than leaving them exposed to last-minute fuel surcharges. It also reflects the scale of the task. Indonesia completed its 2026 season as the largest single source of pilgrims in the world, and its decisions on financing ripple across the entire global Hajj market.

Practical tips for prospective pilgrims:

  • Register early. Indonesia's waiting list is among the longest in the world, so the sooner you enrol with the official scheme, the sooner your turn arrives.
  • Budget for variation. Because flight costs depend on global fuel prices and exchange rates, set aside a margin in case the final BPIH is higher than early estimates.
  • Use official channels only. Book through the recognised government scheme rather than informal operators, which protects your deposit and your place in the queue.
  • Keep documents current. Ensure your passport and identity records are valid well ahead of any departure window, as Saudi Arabia continues to tighten visa and entry timelines.

The ministry framed its 2027 and 2028 work as a deliberate, advance exercise rather than a reaction to a crisis. By fixing the financing formula early, officials hope to absorb fuel volatility within the system instead of passing it straight on to families saving for the journey of a lifetime.