The Saudi-designated Nigerian Hajj air carrier, Flynas, has deployed six wide-body Airbus planes to transport Nigerian-intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2026 Hajj.

Umar Kaila, the managing director of First Planet Travels Ltd, said this in a statement by Mahmood Abande of the Flynas Media Office in Abuja on Friday.

Mr Kaila, who is also the general sales agent (GSA) for Flynas in Nigeria, said that the company had lined up six wide-body Airbus A330 planes for the Hajj operation.

According to him, four of the aircrafts have a 430 sitting capacity each, and the remaining two planes have 345 each.

“The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has allocated 12, 550 intending pilgrims to Flynas for this year’s pilgrimage.

“The airline will airlift pilgrims from Kebbi, Lagos, Osun, Kaduna, Niger, Ogun and some numbers from Nasarawa State,” Mr Kaila said.

According to him, the airline has already organised refresher courses for its over 100 local Nigerian staff members ahead of the operation.

The Flynas chief said the airline would operate from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos; and Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi.

According to him, it will also transport pilgrims from Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport, Minna; Kaduna International Airport; and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

“Flynas has been in Nigeria since 2014 as part of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.

“We have proved in the last 12 years that Nigerian pilgrims are kings based on the excellent and world-class services they have been rendering to them during Hajj operations.

“Like we have been doing in the past, we have completed arrangements to offer excellent services to our distinguished pilgrims during the 2026 Hajj operation. We will deploy world-class facilities and well-trained manpower to serve the Guests of Allah,” he said.

He assured NAHCON, the state pilgrims board, and other relevant federal agencies of mutual cooperation and understanding for a seamless Hajj airlift.

He said that the airline has a fleet of more than 61 aircraft, operating over 1,500 weekly flights across 139 routes to more than 70 domestic and international destinations in 30 countries. 

(NAN)