Flynas, the Saudi-designated hajj air carrier for Nigeria, has successfully airlifted 18,017 intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2023 hajj. According to Umar Kaila, the Managing Director of the General Sales Agent (GSA) of Flynas in Nigeria, the pilgrims were airlifted in a total of 45 flights. This number represents about 63% of the 29,296 pilgrims allocated to the airline. Flynas has been allocated pilgrims from several Nigerian states, including Lagos, Osun, and Sokoto, among others.
Mr. Kaila noted that Flynas airlifted more than half of its allocated pilgrims “on schedule,” emphasizing that this was achieved despite the rescue operations conducted for states such as Nasarawa. The airline has positioned six aircraft for the hajj operation, but only five have been deployed so far. Flynas currently operates from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, Sultan Abubakar International Airport Sokoto, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has allocated a total of 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 on an ad hoc basis every year during hajj operations, first came to Nigeria in 2014 as part of the bilateral air services agreement between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
As of Sunday evening, Flynas had operated 45 out of a total of 101 flights by approved air carriers. The official data from NAHCON’s Command and Control Center also revealed that Max Air had airlifted 12,327 pilgrims in 23 flights, Azman Air had ferried 2,750 pilgrims in three flights, Aero Contractors had airlifted 6,025 pilgrims in seven flights, and Air Peace had transported 3,206 pilgrims in twelve flights.
Flight operations for the 2023 hajj began on Thursday, May 25, 2023, with the NAHCON airlifting Nigerian pilgrims from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja. Flynas and the other approved airlines will continue to help the commission achieve its goal of airlifting a total of 95,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2023 hajj.
