The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has recorded no fewer than sixty return flights of pilgrims so far, since the commencement of the return airlift on July 4th.
In the flights update by its Command and Control Centre posted on its platforms, NAHCON said 1l23,329 pilgrims had been airlifted to Nigeria so far, after completing the 2023 Hajj exercise.
The information also revealed that the FLYNAS flight XY7824 that departed Jeddah to Maiduguri on Saturday at 06:55hrs with 388 Yobe Pilgrims and 8 officials is the 60th flights.
The Saudi Arabia General Authority on Aviation GACA had last week approved more slots for Nigerian Hajj operations airlines to airlift more Nigerians back home, after initial foot-dragging.
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the approval followed several meetings between the Nigerian Hajj authorities and Saudi authorities which initially limited the number of flights and the capacity of each airline out of the holy land after the conclusion of Hajj rites.
Beginning from Wednesday, 12th July, 2023 all the Nigerian licensed carriers would begin to operate their in-bound flight to Nigeria optimally.
A statement by Mousa Ubandawaki, Deputy Director, Information/Publications of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria NAHCON said with this situation, Max Airline with three aircrafts on its fleet will be able to operate all the aircraft to Nigeria everyday, the same with Aero Contractors, Air peace, Azman and Arik Air which is dedicated to the airlift of private tour operators.
