Flynas, a Saudi-designated Nigerian Hajj carrier, will deploy nine aircraft to transport Nigerian pilgrims during the 2025 Hajj operations.
This was revealed by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Tuesday.
The commission, in a statement signed by its Assistant Director of Information and Publications, Fatima Sanda Usara, stated that it has registered 43,000 pilgrims for this year’s Hajj.
Flynas was allocated 12,506 pilgrims from the Federal Capital Territory, Kebbi, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Sokoto, and Zamfara states.
“Flynas is bringing in nine aircraft for the operation,” the NAHCON statement said.
The commission noted that the inaugural flight would commence on May 9, 2025.
Max Air, with an allocation of 15,203 pilgrims, is airlifting travellers from Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kwara, Oyo, and Plateau states.
The Nigerian airline is deploying two aircraft for the operation, according to NAHCON.
Additionally, UMZA has been allocated 10,163 pilgrims from Kaduna, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Niger, and Yobe states. It will also deploy two aircraft for the exercise.
Air Peace has been assigned 5,128 pilgrims from Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kogi, Ondo, Rivers, Taraba states, and the Armed Forces.
The statement indicated that the pilgrims’ airlift would conclude on May 24, 2025, while the return flights are tentatively scheduled to start on June 13 and end on July 2.
The Managing Director of First Planet Travels and General Sales Agent (GSA) of Flynas in Nigeria, Alhaji Umar Kaila, stated that the airline is prepared to airlift its pilgrims seamlessly.
“We have set a record of seamless Hajj operation in Nigeria for 10 years straight. This is our eleventh year, and we want to assure our customers of excellent services in line with international best practices,” Alhaji Kaila said.
On January 15, NAHCON announced the selection of Flynas, Air Peace, Max Air, and UMZA Aviation Services Limited as the official carriers for the 2025 Hajj operation.
However, only Flynas, a Saudi—designated Nigerian Hajj air carrier, signed the pilgrims’ airlift agreement with the Hajj commission on Monday, March 10.
The 2025 Hajj pilgrims’ airlift agreement was signed by the Chief Commercial Officer of Flynas, Mr. Khaled Alhejairi, and the Chairman and CEO of NAHCON, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman.
Flynas is the largest and most experienced of the selected airlines, having successfully airlifted Nigerian pilgrims to the holy land for the last 10 consecutive years without issues.
With over 100 permanent and local ad hoc staff, Flynas has been present in Nigeria as part of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
Hajj stakeholders remarked that the airline’s entry into the Nigerian Hajj industry has significantly contributed to the capacity building of its workforce and to stabilising the airlift operations of Nigerian pilgrims to and from Saudi Arabia.
