Flynas completes airlift of Nigerian pilgrims, commends Tinubu, NAHCON

Flynas has completed the return airlift of Nigerian pilgrims who participated in the 2026 Hajj, concluding the operation within two weeks and commending President Bola Tinubu and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, for their support in ensuring a smooth exercise.

The airline transported the final batch of pilgrims from Kebbi State to Nigeria on Saturday, June 20, bringing its 2026 Hajj airlift operation to a successful close.

In a statement issued on Monday by its Abuja Media Office and signed by Mahmood Muhammad Abande, Flynas said it operated 32 inbound flights between June 4 and June 20, 2026, conveying thousands of pilgrims from Saudi Arabia back to Nigeria.

The statement quoted the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of First Planet Limited, the General Sales Agent, GSA, of Flynas in Nigeria, Alhaji Umar Kaila, as saying that the airline airlifted a total of 11,832 pilgrims from Kebbi, Kaduna, Lagos, Ogun, Niger, Nasarawa and Osun states.

According to the breakdown of operations, Flynas operated nine flights from King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, to Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi; six flights to Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport, Minna; eight flights to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos; and five flights to Hassan Usman Katsina International Airport, Kaduna.

The airline also operated two flights each to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and Gateway International Airport, Abeokuta.

Mr Kaila expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for providing the necessary support that enabled the airline to conduct what he described as a hitch-free Hajj operation.

He also reaffirmed Flynas’ commitment to continuing to provide quality services to Nigerian pilgrims in future Hajj exercises.

The airline further commended NAHCON under the leadership of its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ambassador Isma’il Abbas Yusuf, for its coordination and management of the 2026 Hajj operation.

“The professionalism, commitment and dedication displayed by the NAHCON leadership under Ambassador Isma’il Abbas Yusuf and his team were exceptional. Their efforts made it possible to achieve seamless outbound and inbound Hajj operations,” Kaila said.

He also appreciated the management of Flynas in Saudi Arabia for entrusting First Planet Limited with the responsibility of serving as the airline’s General Sales Agent in Nigeria for more than a decade.

Kaila further acknowledged the cooperation of state governments and the leadership of pilgrims welfare boards, agencies and commissions in Kebbi, Lagos, Nasarawa, Osun, Kaduna, Ogun and Niger states for their support throughout the exercise.

According to him, Flynas deployed six wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft for the 2026 Hajj operation. Four of the aircraft had a seating capacity of 430 passengers each, while the remaining two accommodated 345 passengers each.

Flynas has operated in Nigeria since 2014 under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement, BASA, between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.

The airline currently operates a fleet of more than 160 aircraft and runs over 1,500 weekly flights across 139 routes, serving more than 70 domestic and international destinations in 30 countries.