Kuala lumpur: The first flights of the Makkah Route Initiative departed from Malaysia today, marking the operational commencement of services for the 1447 AH Hajj season. The flights carried pilgrims from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the initiative, implemented by the Ministry of Interior for the eighth consecutive year, aims to streamline the Hajj journey by completing all entry procedures at the point of departure. This includes biometric data collection, electronic Hajj visa issuance, and passport control. Additionally, the luggage of pilgrims is coded and sorted according to housing arrangements, allowing them to proceed directly to their accommodations in Makkah and Madinah upon arrival via dedicated routes. Partner agencies are responsible for managing baggage delivery.
Since its inception in 2017, the Makkah Route Initiative has served 1,254,994 pilgrims. This project is a collaborative effort involving the ministries of foreign affairs, health, hajj and umrah, and media. It also includes the General Authority of Civil Aviation, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, the General Authority for Awqaf, the Pilgrim Experience Program, and the General Directorate of Passports, in partnership with the stc group as the digital enabler.