2024 Hajj: Federal Government Approves Operation of Three Airlines

The Federal Government has granted approval to three airlines – Air Peace, Flynas, and Max Air – to exclusively serve as carriers for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage. In addition, three cargo companies – Cargo Zeal Technologies Limited, NAHCO Aviance, and Qualla Investment Limited – have been approved to handle the airfreight of pilgrims’ excess luggage, as stated in a release signed by Fatima Usara, the Assistant Director of Public Affairs at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, on Friday.

As per the statement, Air Peace will be responsible for transporting pilgrims from Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, FCT, Imo, Kwara, Ondo, and Rivers. Flynas will convey pilgrims from Borno, Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi, Yobe, and Zamfara. Max Air, with the highest allocation, will airlift pilgrims from Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Oyo, Taraba, Kaduna, Armed Forces, Gombe, Jigawa, and Plateau states.

The statement highlighted the official approval by the Federal Government, led by President Bola Tinubu, and also confirmed the selection of Cargo Zeal Technologies Limited, NAHCO Aviance, and Qualla Investment Limited as the approved air cargo companies. The allocation of pilgrims to the airlines aligns with the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, governing the airlift of pilgrims under government quota.

While acknowledging the state governments’ flexibility to designate approved freight companies for pilgrims’ excess luggage, the Commission emphasized the need for timely communication of such decisions.

Furthermore, it was disclosed that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, would lead a delegation from the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage on January 7, 2024.

NAHCON’s Acting Chairman, Jalal Arabi, congratulated the approved airlines and urged them to prepare for a seamless pilgrimage in the upcoming 2024 season. The commission reiterated its commitment to maintaining the highest standards in pilgrimage organization, with a primary focus on the safety and satisfaction of pilgrims.