Nigeria, Saudi Arabia move to review air services pact ahead of 2026 Hajj

Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have commenced fresh discussions to review their Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) as part of efforts to strengthen aviation cooperation and streamline preparations for the 2026 Hajj operations.

According to the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the talks were held in Riyadh, where Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, led a delegation to meetings with Saudi officials, including the Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, Saleh Al-Jasser, and the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Abdulaziz Al-Duailej.

The discussions focused on updating the BASA framework to reflect current global aviation realities and address operational challenges affecting airlines from both countries, particularly during the annual Hajj airlift.

Both sides agreed on the need to review the agreement to ensure fairness, efficiency, and mutual benefit, especially in areas such as ticket availability, flight scheduling, and overall travel experience for pilgrims.

The meeting also revisited the 2015 Memorandum of Understanding governing the sharing formula for transporting pilgrims, with a view to improving equity and efficiency in passenger allocation between designated airlines.

Keyamo’s delegation, which included the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Chris Najomo, also pushed for better slot allocation for Nigerian carriers and improved operational conditions to support seamless Hajj operations.

The minister commended Saudi authorities for their cooperation and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and maintaining global aviation standards.

Decisions from the talks, particularly those relating to the 2026 Hajj operations, have been communicated to designated airlines, signalling early preparations for one of the busiest travel periods for Nigerian carriers.