A Saudi-designated Nigerian Hajj air carrier, Flynas, has completed the airlift of the 13,583 allocated pilgrims back to Nigeria in 16 days.
Managing director of First Planet Travels and General Sales Agent (GSA) of Flynas in Nigeria, Alhaji Umar Kaila, disclosed this on Sunday after the arrival of the last batch of pilgrims at the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.
During the second phase of the 2025 Hajj operation, the 13,583 Nigerian pilgrims were airlifted back to the country in 30 flights.
“With utmost gratitude to Allah (SWT), Flynas has completed its 2025 Hajj operation in Nigeria with the arrival of the 418 pilgrims to Birnin Kebbi at 2:10 pm on Sunday,” a statement released by the Flynas Nigeria Media Office and signed by Umma Salama Kyaure, quoted Mr Kaila as saying.
Flynas is one of the four airlines selected for the 2025 Hajj operation in Nigeria, but the first to complete the transportation of its allocated pilgrims in record time.
The statement said all the airline’s pilgrims were returned with their approved 8-kilogram hand luggage, 32-kilogram main luggage, and a 5-litre bottle of Zamzam water.
The airline, which deployed nine aircraft for the Nigerian operation this year, was allocated pilgrims from Osun, Lagos, Ogun, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and the Federal Capital Territory.
Flynas had operated from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos; Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi, and Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto.
“Flynas had transported 13,583 Hajj pilgrims from the King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to Nigeria.
“A total of 1,772 pilgrims were transported back to Nigeria through the Abuja airport; 3,830 through Birnin Kebbi; 4,622 through Sokoto; and 3,359 through Lagos,” the statement said.
The airline congratulated its Nigerian pilgrims for a successful airlift from Saudi Arabia.
“On behalf of Flynas, I want to extend our profound gratitude to the pilgrims for their full cooperation through the outbound and inbound operations; the officials of the state pilgrims boards of Kebbi, Lagos, Sokoto, Osun, Zamfara and Ogun states and the FCT for their professional support; and NAHCON for its coordination and management of the operation,” Mr Kaila said.
