President Tinubu has granted approval to three airlines to serve as exclusive carriers for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage. The Assistant Director, Public Affairs, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Fatima Sanda-Usara, made the above public in a statement on Friday in Abuja. The airlines selected were named as Air Peace Ltd, FlyNas and Max Air.Max Air, which has the highest allocation, is responsible for the conveyance of pilgrims from Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Oyo, Taraba, Kaduna, Armed Forces, Gombe, Jigawa and Plateau states. Similarly, Air Peace is scheduled to transport intending pilgrims from Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, FCT, Imo, Kwara, Ondo and Rivers states.
FlyNas will airlift Muslim pilgrims from Borno, Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi, Yobe and Zamfara.
The Federal Government has also approved three air cargo companies to airfreight pilgrims’ excess luggage. They are Cargo Zeal Technologies Ltd, Nahco Aviance and Qualla Investment Limited.
The statement added that the approval reinforced government’s commitment to ensure sseamless and secure pilgrimage experience for pilgrims.
“The Chairman of NAHCON, Mallam Jalal Arabi, congratulated the approved airlines on the selection and called on them to gear up to facilitate a smooth pilgrimage in 2024 season,” Mrs Sanda-Usara said.
She also said NAHCON remains dedicated to upholding the highest standards in pilgrimage organization with a focus on the safety and satisfaction of pilgrims.