Surabaya: The first flight carrying beneficiaries of the Makkah Route Initiative departed today from Surabaya, Indonesia, to Saudi Arabia via the initiative's terminal at Juanda International Airport, bound for Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the initiative aims to provide services to pilgrims by facilitating their procedures in their home countries with ease and convenience. This includes collecting biometric data, issuing Hajj visas electronically, completing passport control procedures after verifying health requirements, and organizing and tagging luggage in accordance with transport and accommodation arrangements in the Kingdom.

The Ministry of Interior has been implementing the initiative since its launch in 2017, and it has served 1,254,994 pilgrims.