A sharp rise in jet fuel prices has pushed up the cost of flying pilgrims to and from Saudi Arabia, prompting several Muslim-majority governments to absorb part of the burden so that travel for Hajj remains affordable. According to the Gulf business news outlet AGBI, countries including Indonesia and Pakistan moved to subsidise air travel for the 2026 season, while India passed some of the increase on to pilgrims through a fuel surcharge.

Why Pilgrimage Airfares Climbed

Flights are one of the largest single costs in any Hajj or Umrah journey. When fuel prices move, fares follow. AGBI reported that the global average price for jet fuel stood at around 181 dollars a barrel in mid-May 2026, citing a tracker run by the International Air Transport Association and Platts. Before regional supply disruptions, a barrel of jet fuel traded at roughly 100 dollars.

The increase was linked to a disruption of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which a large share of the world's crude normally passes. Much of the crude produced in the Gulf is well suited to making jet fuel, and a large portion is usually refined in Asia. With supply squeezed, several airlines trimmed flights and raised fares. The holy cities of Makkah and Madinah were not affected by the wider regional tensions, and the pilgrimage proceeded on schedule.

How Governments Responded

Indonesia, the world's largest Hajj-sending country, pledged to absorb an additional 1.77 trillion rupiah, about 107 million dollars, in Hajj-related flight costs, according to AGBI citing the state news agency. Pakistan's religious affairs minister, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, said pilgrims would not face an increase in airfares despite the global fuel price rise.

India took a different path. The Haj Committee of India approved an additional airfare surcharge of around 117 dollars per pilgrim and raised the base fare by more than 400 dollars, attributing the change to what it described as pressing requests from airlines.

Fazal Bahardeen, founder and chief executive of the travel consultancy CrescentRating, told AGBI that higher costs were unlikely to leave Hajj places unfilled, because demand remains strong and the pilgrimage operates under a quota system administered by Saudi Arabia. He cautioned, however, that Umrah, the year-round pilgrimage, could be affected later in the year if fuel prices and airline surcharges continue to rise.

Looking Ahead to 2027 and 2028

Saudi Arabia and pilgrim-sending nations are already planning further ahead. Indonesia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Mochamad Irfan Yusuf, said in Makkah on May 31 that his ministry had begun designing the 2027 pilgrimage and reviewing the framework for 2028, in part to anticipate fuel-driven cost pressures.

"We have begun planning for 2027 and 2028. We have maximized budget efficiency in various areas," Yusuf said, according to the Indonesian state news agency Antara. "However, given the challenge of avtur prices, we are currently exploring various possible best-fit formulas." Avtur is the Indonesian term for aviation turbine fuel.

Yusuf noted that flight costs are one of the largest contributors to the total Hajj cost borne by Indonesian pilgrims, and that fuel price swings combined with currency movements feed directly into the final bill. He said his ministry would continue to coordinate with the country's Hajj Financial Management Agency and parliament to keep the system sustainable and to protect the value of pilgrims' savings.

Practical Tips for Pilgrims

For those planning Hajj or Umrah in the months ahead, a few steps can help manage the impact of rising airfares:

  • Book early. Securing flights and accommodation well in advance often locks in better rates before peak-season demand builds.
  • Confirm what your package covers. Ask your operator whether airfare is fixed or subject to fuel surcharges, and get the answer in writing.
  • Watch official announcements. Costs set by national Hajj committees and the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah are the authoritative source. Verify figures through official channels rather than informal forwards.
  • Budget a margin. Where fares are not fully fixed, leave room in your budget for possible surcharges between booking and departure.
  • Use licensed operators only. Authorised agents and the official Nusuk platform offer the clearest protection against hidden costs and last-minute changes.

With governments stepping in to shield this year's pilgrims and planning already under way for future seasons, the message for worshippers is to plan early, confirm the details, and rely on official information.