Abuja: Flynas, a designated Saudi airline for the 2026 Hajj operation, has announced the successful completion of its airlift operation, transporting pilgrims from Saudi Arabia back to Nigeria within a two-week timeframe.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the announcement was made in a statement by Mr. Mahmood Abande from Flynas’ Media Office in Abuja. The airline expressed its gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for their support in ensuring a seamless operation. The airlift concluded with the last batch of pilgrims from Kebbi State arriving in Nigeria on Saturday, officially marking the end of the 2026 Hajj operation.
Flynas operated a total of 32 inbound flights to Nigeria, starting on June 4, 2026. Mr. Abande quoted Alhaji Umar Kaila, the Chief Executive Officer of First Planet Limited and Flynas General Sales Agent (GSA) in Nigeria, who reported that the airline successfully transported 11,832 pilgrims from various states, including Kebbi, Kaduna, Lagos, Ogun, Niger, Nasarawa, and Osun, back to Nigeria.
The return journey consisted of nine flights from King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah to Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Birnin Kebbi, six flights to Bola Tinubu International Airport in Minna, and eight flights to Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Additionally, there were five flights to Hassan Usman Katsina International Airport in Kaduna, and two flights each to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, and Gateway International Airport in Abeokuta.
Flynas expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for providing the necessary support to ensure a smooth 2026 Hajj operation. The airline also assured the President of its commitment to continue serving Nigerian pilgrims in the future. The leadership of NAHCON, under Ambassador Isma’il Abbas Yusuf, was commended for its coordination and professionalism, which were pivotal in achieving a successful Hajj operation.
Alhaji Umar Kaila also acknowledged the role of Flynas’ management in Saudi Arabia for entrusting First Planet Limited as its GSA in Nigeria for over a decade, and appreciated the cooperation of governors and chief executives from the respective states involved.
For the 2026 Hajj operation, Flynas deployed six wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft, with four having a seating capacity of 430 each, while the remaining two could accommodate 345 passengers each. Flynas, operating in Nigeria since 2014 under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, boasts a fleet of over 160 aircraft and conducts more than 1,500 weekly flights on 139 routes across 30 countries.