Indonesia, the world's largest sender of Hajj pilgrims, has begun planning its 2027 pilgrimage season early, with rising aviation fuel prices identified as a leading financial concern. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said it is already reviewing arrangements for both 2027 and 2028 to avoid sudden cost increases for pilgrims.

Speaking in Makkah on May 31, 2026, shortly after the close of this year's Hajj rites, Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf said his office had started designing the framework for the coming seasons as an early step to anticipate operational and financial challenges.

Aviation fuel at the centre of cost concerns

According to the minister, the price of aviation fuel, known locally as avtur, is a cross-sector concern with a direct effect on the total cost of Hajj. Flights are one of the largest components of Indonesia's Hajj Pilgrimage Cost, the official figure that determines how much each pilgrim must pay.

"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 the state news agency Antara.

He noted that fluctuations in global fuel prices, combined with exchange-rate movements, automatically affect the costs borne by pilgrims. Without early mitigation, he warned, spikes in fuel prices have the potential to significantly raise the amount each pilgrim pays.

How Indonesia's Hajj financing works

Indonesia funds its Hajj through a shared structure. The Hajj Financial Management Agency, known as BPKH, manages pilgrims' initial deposits and generates a benefit value that subsidises the gap between the real cost of the pilgrimage and the amount paid directly by pilgrims.

The House of Representatives, or DPR, holds the authority to discuss and approve how those costs are distributed. The minister said close coordination between his ministry, BPKH and parliament is essential to ensure decisions do not harm pilgrims or undermine the long-term sustainability of the Hajj fund.

Financial readiness carries added weight because of the possibility of larger quotas in future years. Indonesia received a quota of around 221,000 pilgrims for the 2026 season, the largest of any country, and long waiting lists mean millions are still saving and waiting for their turn.

Part of a wider regional cost squeeze

Indonesia is not alone in facing pressure on pilgrimage budgets. Reports through 2026 have pointed to rising costs across several Hajj-sending nations, driven by fuel surcharges and currency weakness. Securing competitive airline and accommodation contracts in Saudi Arabia well in advance is one way governments try to shield pilgrims from sudden price jumps.

The minister said long-term financial planning is necessary to keep the Hajj fund sustainable and to maintain the subsidy benefit for the millions still on the waiting list. By starting work on 2027 and 2028 now, the ministry hopes to lock in better terms before prices move again.

What prospective pilgrims should do

Indonesians on the Hajj waiting list should keep their registration details and deposit accounts up to date, since final costs for 2027 will depend on decisions still being negotiated between the ministry, BPKH and parliament. Official cost figures are typically confirmed closer to each season.

Pilgrims everywhere are advised to budget for the possibility of higher airfares and to rely only on authorised travel operators and official government channels. Booking through accredited providers reduces the risk of fraud, which authorities in several countries have warned about ahead of recent seasons.

Industry analysts note that fuel typically accounts for a substantial share of any long-haul Hajj package, so even modest swings in the avtur price can translate into meaningful changes in the final bill. Early contracting is widely seen as the most effective hedge against that volatility.