Flynas Completes 2026 Hajj Airlift in Record Two Weeks, Returns 11,832 Nigerian Pilgrims
Saudi Arabian carrier Flynas has successfully completed the return airlift of Nigerian pilgrims from the 2026 Hajj in a record two weeks, transporting 11,832 pilgrims from seven states back to Nigeria and concluding the operation with the final batch of pilgrims from Kebbi State on June 20.
The airline described the operation as one of its most seamless Hajj exercises in Nigeria and expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for their support and coordination throughout the exercise.
In a statement issued by the Flynas Media Office in Abuja and signed by Mahmood Muhammad Abande, the airline said the inbound operation commenced on June 4 and was completed after 32 flights from Saudi Arabia to various destinations across Nigeria.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of First Planet Limited, Flynas’ General Sales Agent (GSA) in Nigeria, Alhaji Umar Kaila, said the airline airlifted pilgrims from Kebbi, Kaduna, Lagos, Ogun, Niger, Nasarawa and Osun states.
According to him, the successful operation reflects the airline’s commitment to providing efficient and reliable services to Nigerian pilgrims.
A breakdown of the flights showed that Flynas operated nine flights from King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, to Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi; six flights to Bola Tinubu International Airport, Minna; eight flights to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos; five flights to Hassan Usman Katsina International Airport, Kaduna; and two flights each to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and Gateway International Airport, Abeokuta.
Flynas commended President Tinubu for creating an enabling environment that facilitated the successful operation and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting future Hajj exercises.
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The airline also praised NAHCON, led by Ambassador Isma’il Abbas Yusuf, for what it described as exceptional leadership and effective coordination throughout the pilgrimage season.
“The professionalism, commitment and dedication displayed by the NAHCON leadership under His Excellency, Ambassador Isma’il Abbas Yusuf, and his team of dedicated staff, is unprecedented. Those excellent efforts made it possible to record a seamless outbound and inbound Hajj operation,” Kaila said.
He further expressed gratitude to the management of Flynas in Saudi Arabia for retaining First Planet Limited as its Nigerian General Sales Agent for more than a decade, noting that the partnership has enabled the company to consistently deliver quality services to Nigerian pilgrims.
Kaila also acknowledged the support of governors and the leadership of pilgrims’ boards, agencies and commissions in the participating states, whose cooperation, he said, contributed significantly to the smooth coordination of pilgrims throughout the exercise.
To support the 2026 Hajj operation, Flynas deployed six wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft, including four aircraft with a seating capacity of 430 passengers each and two aircraft with 345 seats each, enabling the airline to transport large numbers of pilgrims efficiently within a short period.
Flynas has operated in Nigeria since 2014 under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia and has become one of the major carriers involved in Hajj transportation for Nigerian pilgrims.
The airline currently operates a fleet of more than 160 aircraft, serving over 70 domestic and international destinations across 30 countries through more than 1,500 weekly flights, making it one of the leading low-cost carriers in the Middle East and Africa.
The successful completion of the 2026 Hajj airlift further reinforces Flynas’ growing role in facilitating religious travel between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia while strengthening bilateral aviation ties between both countries.
By PRNigeria
