President Bola Tinubu has approved three airlines to serve as exclusive carriers for the 2024 hajj pilgrimage.

The airlines are the Air Peace, FlyNas, and Max Air.

This was made known in a statement issued by the Assistant Director, Public Affairs of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Fatima Sanda-Usara, on Friday, January 5, 2024.

Sanda-Usara also disclosed that Tinubu approved three other air cargo companies that will airfreight pilgrims’ excess luggage.

According to her, the three air cargos are Cargo Zeal Technologies Limited, Nahco Aviance, and Qualla Investment Limited.

She said the approval reinforces the federal government’s commitment to ensuring a seamless and secure pilgrimage experience for Nigerian intending pilgrims.

She stated: “Consequently, the federal government concurrently approved allocation of pilgrims from various states to each of the approved airlines as follows:

READ ALSO: FG extends 2024 hajj registration deadline to January 31

“​Air Peace is to transport intending pilgrims from Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kwara, Ondo, Rivers states, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“FlyNas will transport intending pilgrims from Borno, Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi, Yobe, and Zamfara states.

“And Max Air with the highest allocation will be responsible for moving pilgrims from Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Oyo, Taraba, Kaduna, Armed Forces, Gombe, Jigawa, and Plateau states.

Sanda-Usara noted that the allocation of pilgrims to the airlines was in line with the subsisting Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia on the transportation of pilgrims under government quota.

She added: “However, state governments may choose to designate any of the approved freight companies to convey their pilgrims’ excess luggage.

“Should any state enter such exclusive arrangement, the decision should be communicated to NAHCON accordingly.”

She quoted the NAHCON Chairman, Jalal Arabi, as congratulating the approved airlines on their selection and called on them to gear up to facilitating a smooth pilgrimage in the 2024 season.

Arabi added that NAHCON remains dedicated to upholding the highest standards in pilgrimage organisation, with a focus on the safety and satisfaction of pilgrims.

The Star