Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Last Haj flight carrying 200 passengers flew from King Abdul Aziz Airport here to Pakistan on Sunday, authorities have announced. The total number of pilgrims who left the airport following this year Haj season is 8,46,400 pilgrims aboard 3,670 flights. A statement from the airport noted they have achieved a high safety and operation percentage this year. "The haj operation season went smoothly due to the cooperation between various government departments who unitedly worked to serve the pilgrims," the statement said. The Haj and Umra terminals are organized at the beginning of the Haj season to serve arriving pilgrims and immediately after the Haj season the operations are reversed to serve only passengers leaving the Kingdom. The terminal is equipped with 14 passenger halls, 10 portable bridges, 420 counters, 16 customs operations points and 40 praying areas. In the same context the airport can have 47 airplanes at the same time, and the service capacity can be 3,800 pilgrims per hour. The terminal also has a hotel that can have 450 passengers. Campaign against overstaying pilgrims The Passport Department (Jawazat) has launched a campaign to track down pilgrims who fail to leave the Kingdom after the Haj season. The Passport Department said regulations do not allow pilgrims who come for Haj to extend their stay after their visa had expired. The department will start imposing fine up to SR50,000 on those who fail to depart on time. Those overstaying also face a six-month jail term and deportation. According to the regulations, people who harbor pilgrims overstaying their visas, or those found providing them with work and transport are also subject to fines of up to SR100,000, six months in jail, and possible deportation if they are a non-Saudi. Haj institutions that fail to notify the Passport Department on any pilgrim who has failed to leave the Kingdom are also subject to fines of up to SR100,000 for each overstaying pilgrim.
