Garuda's head of communications Pujobroto was quoted by the Bisnis Indonesia daily newspaper as saying the tender was designed to enable thousands of Muslims to perform their Hajj next year.

Pujobroto said that Garuda wished to rent at least 16 aircraft for February-April 2001. Garuda was looking for Boeing 747s, Boeing 767s and McDonnell Douglas 11s, he added.

Pujobroto said that the winning bid would be announced by October this year, adding that the aircraft would be expected to arrive in Indonesia in January 2001. For the Hajj this year, Garuda leased 11 wide-bodied aircraft - four MD 11s and seven Boeing 767s, the newspaper said.

Almost 90% of Indonesia's 210 million people are Muslims. Approximately 200,000 Indonesians made Hajj this year in Saudi Arabia. The Indonesian government annually organizes the pilgrimage for its citizens, providing a full board and transport package.

The annual event is a month-long logistical challenge for the Indonesian government, which has to co-ordinate documentation, food and transport. Islam requires Muslims who can afford it to perform Hajj to the Islamic sites in Saudi Arabia at least once in a life.

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