Tinubu Okays Three Airlines for Airlifting Pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia
The Federal Government has officially granted approval to three airlines to serve as exclusive carriers for the 2024 pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The airlines according to a statement by the Commission’s Assistant Director in charge of Public Affairs, Fatima Sanda Usara, are Air Peace Ltd., FlyNas and Max Air.
The government also approved three other air cargo companies that will airfreight pilgrims’ excess luggage. They are Cargo Zeal Technologies Ltd, Nahco Aviance and Qualla Investment Limited.
“The approval reinforces Government’s commitment to ensuring a seamless and secure pilgrimage experience for Nigerian intending pilgrims. Consequently, the Federal government concurrently approved allocation of pilgrims from various states to each of the approved airlines as follows:
i.Air Peace is to transport intending pilgrims from: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, FCT, Imo, Kwara, Ondo and Rivers.
ii.FlyNas will airlift pilgrims from: Borno, Lagos, Osun, Ogun,Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi, Yobe and Zamfara.
iii. Max Air with the highest allocation will be responsible for moving pilgrims from: Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Oyo, Taraba, Kaduna, Armed Forces, Gombe, Jigawa and Plateau,” the statement read in part.
The Commission added that the allocation of pilgrims to the airlines was in line with the subsisting Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia on airlift of pilgrims under government quota.
“However, state governments may choose to designate any of the approved freight companies to convey their pilgrims’ excess luggage. Should any state enter such exclusive arrangement, the decision should be communicated to the Commission accordingly,” the statement read.
