The Saudi—designated Nigerian hajj air carrier, Flynas, has signed an hajj airlift agreement with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, for 2024 operations.
Flynas Director for Business Development, Yasser Ajlan, and Manager Business Development, Hani Isma’il, represented the airline, while NAHCON Chairman/CEO, Jalal Arabi, signed the agreement on behalf of the commission.
The event held at the Hajj House Abuja on Friday was attended by the Managing Director of First Planet Travels – the General Sales Agent, GSA, of Flynas in Nigeria – Alhaji Umar Kaila.
The hajj commission has selected Flynas, Max Air and Air Peace as hajj official carriers that will airlift 51,447 Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for 2024 hajj.
In his remarks, Mr Ajlan promised to work closely with the new NAHCON chairman to provide excellent and seamless services to Nigerian pilgrims.
“We are happy to sign this agreement with NAHCON, and we want to assure the new Chairman Mr Jalal Arabi of our unwavering support and commitment towards a successful hajj operations in Nigeria,” Mr Ajlan said.
For this year’s operations, Flynas will airlift pilgrims from Borno, Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi, Yobe and Zamfara states.
Flynas has been in Nigeria since 2014 as part of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement, BASA, between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
With over 80 local adhoc staff, Flynas has been airlifting Nigerian pilgrims in the last nine years without any hitches.
The airline’s entry into the Nigerian hajj eco-system has tremendously helped in capacity building of its workforce as well as stabilizing the airlift operations of Nigerian pilgrims to and from Saudi Arabia.
Flynas said it will position six aircraft for the 2024 hajj operation as parts of its efforts to organize a seamless operations in line with global standards.
