FG Greenlights Airpeace, MaxAir, and FlyNas as Exclusive Carriers for 2024 Hajj

• The federal government approves Air Peace Ltd., FlyNas, and Max Air for exclusive airlift during the 2024 hajj exercise
• Allocation of pilgrims to each airline aligns with the Bilateral Air Service Agreement between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia

The federal government has granted approval to three airlines for the exclusive airlift of intending pilgrims during the 2024 hajj exercise. The approved carriers are Air Peace Ltd., FlyNas, and Max Air, as announced by Farima Sanda Usara, the Assistant Director on Public Affairs at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

In a statement released on Friday, Usara highlighted the government’s commitment to ensuring a seamless and secure pilgrimage experience for Nigerian intending pilgrims. The three approved air cargo companies for transporting pilgrims’ excess luggage are Cargo Zeal Technologies Ltd, Nahco Aviance, and Qualla Investment Limited.

The allocation of pilgrims from various states to each approved airline aligns with the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. The breakdown of allocations is as follows:

• Air Peace: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, FCT, Imo, Kwara, Ondo, and Rivers States.
• FlyNas: Borno, Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi, Yobe, and Zamfara States.
• Max Air: Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Oyo, Taraba, Kaduna, Armed Forces, Gombe, Jigawa, and Plateau States.

Usara emphasized that state governments could opt for any of the approved freight companies to transport pilgrims’ excess luggage, provided they communicate the decision to the Commission accordingly.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, is scheduled to lead a delegation from NAHCON in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage on January 7, 2024. The Chairman of the Commission, Malam Jalal Arabi, congratulated the approved airlines and urged them to prepare for a smooth pilgrimage season, emphasizing NAHCON’s commitment to upholding the highest standards in pilgrimage organization for the safety and satisfaction of pilgrims.