Saudi-designated Nigerian carrier, Flynas, has airlifted 18,017 intending pilgrims to the Holy Land for this year’s hajj.
Managing Director, General Sales Agent (GSA) of Flynas in Nigeria, Umar Kaila, made the disclosure yesterday in Abuja.
The pilgrims, flew in 45 flights, represent about 63 per cent of the 29,296 faithful allocated to the airline.
The carrier has been allocated pilgrims from Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Niger, Borno, Yobe, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
Kaila said Flynas airlifted more than half of its allocated pilgrims “on schedule. This is apart from the rescue operations we conducted for some states like Nasarawa, among others.”
He explained that the airline has positioned six planes for the pilgrimage, but had deployed five.
The carrier operates from Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, Sultan Abubakar International Airport, Sokoto and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) had allocated 29,296 pilgrims to Flynas, 16, 326 to Max Air, 11,348 to Air Peace, 8,660 to Azman Air and 7,833 to Aero Contractors.
Flynas, which employs over 60 Nigerians ad hoc staff yearly during hajj operations, has been in the country since 2014 as part of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
Hajj flight updates obtained from NAHCON’s Command and Control Centre yesterday revealed that Flynas operated 45 of the 101 total flights by approved air carriers.
The commission has so far airlifted 42,571 pilgrims for the religious exercise.
The official data indicate that Max Air has flown 12,327 pilgrims in 23 flights and Azman Air ferried 2,750 others in three flights.
Aero Contractors has airlifted 6,025 pilgrims in seven flights, while Air Peace transported 3,206 pilgrims in 12 flights.
