Indonesia is set to welcome a new Saudi Arabian airline, Mukhtara Air, which plans to begin operating in January 2026.
The airline is part of Manazil Al Mukhtara Company Holding, a Medina-based company known for its hotel, Hajj, and Umrah services. Mukhtara Air has submitted an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) application and is preparing for commercial services in Indonesia once regulatory approval is granted.
Mukhtara Air Operating Director, Andik Setiawan, said the airline aims to begin flights as soon as the AOC is issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
“After the AOC is issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, we will launch flights as soon as possible. Our target is to have the AOC in place by January, God willing,” he said at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, East Jakarta, on Friday (28 November 2025).
The airline currently operates two aircraft types: the Airbus A320 and the Airbus A330. According to Setiawan, the A320 will serve domestic routes, acting as a feeder for international operations, while the A330 will serve long-haul routes to Saudi Arabia.
“We will design the A320 for domestic flights as a hub-and-spoke system. The spokes will be to Surabaya, Denpasar, and Kualanamu. Meanwhile, the A330 will operate routinely with Jeddah, Medina, and the nearby area of Taif,” he explained.
Mukhtara Air intends to expand its fleet as operations scale up. Setiawan stated that the company expects to increase the number of aircraft next year.
“Next year, we will add about three more, making four A320s, and another four A330s. So, there will be six A330s and four A320s, making a total of approximately 10,” he said.
The airline’s headquarters are located in the City Business Centre (CBC) Office Complex near Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang. It also maintains representative offices in Medan, Surabaya, and Bali to support operational coordination across Indonesia.
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Inaugural Aircraft Arrives in Jakarta as Airline Marks Official Entry
Mukhtara Air marked its official entry into Indonesia with the arrival of its first Airbus A320 at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, Jakarta. The aircraft flew in from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, and will form part of the airline’s initial operating fleet.
Mukhtara Air Chairman, Sami Al Harbi, described the launch as a significant commitment by Manazil Al Mukhtara Company to expand its presence in Indonesia.
“Mukhtara Air is our major investment commitment in Indonesia, and we want to provide international-class, full-service standards for pilgrims and general passengers,” he said in a press statement on Friday (28 November 2025).
The Managing Director, Winarso, confirmed that the airline will operate both Airbus A320 and Airbus A330 aircraft across domestic and international routes. The A330 will focus on flights to Medina, Mecca, and the soon-to-open Taif service.
Meanwhile, the A320 will support domestic connectivity by feeding passengers into the airline’s Middle East operations.
“Mukhtara Air will also have many domestic routes, to strengthen connectivity to feeder airports for our international flights,” said Winarso.
The first A320 arriving in Jakarta features 152 seats, consisting of eight business-class seats and 144 economy-class seats. The aircraft is configured to meet full-service comfort standards as part of the airline’s operating model.
Mukhtara Air’s entry is expected to increase flight options for passengers travelling on Hajj, Umrah, and general commercial routes between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. Operational launch dates will depend on the issuance of the AOC by Indonesian aviation authorities.
