Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar said Friday that the ministry is monitoring pilgrims’ departure as per their schedules electronically through a link established between the ministry, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and Saudi Arabian Airlines. He said the system monitors procedures laid down for groups and to transport pilgrims to the airport, which would ensure that pilgrims do not overstay their visas.

The ministry is working with GACA to impose deterrent penalties on airlines failing to fulfill their commitments to pilgrims.

Saudi Arabian Airlines said Friday that it had started implementing its pilgrim-departure plan targeting the highest level of operational utilization of Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport and Madinah’s Prince Muhammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport.