The return transportation of Nigerian pilgrims who took part in the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, with pilgrims from Nasarawa State expected to be the first batch to depart.
They will be followed by pilgrims from Ogun and Kebbi States on June 4, according to Flynas, one of the Saudi-approved Nigerian Hajj carriers.
In a statement, the airline disclosed that the inbound operation would be carried out with six A330 wide-body aircraft assigned to the exercise to facilitate the smooth movement of pilgrims back to Nigeria.
The carrier further stated that the first return flight would transport the initial group of Ogun State pilgrims from King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to Gateway International Airport in Abeokuta.
According to the statement, the second return flight will convey the first batch of Kebbi State pilgrims from the Jeddah airport to Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, on the same day.
On June 5, the airline said it would operate two more flights from Jeddah airport to Abeokuta and Birnin Kebbi respectively.
The statement quoted the Managing Director/CEO of First Planet Travels Limited and General Sales Agent (GSA) for Flynas in Nigeria, Alhaji Umar Kaila, as saying that the airline had completed all preparations to ensure a hitch-free operation in accordance with international standards.
He said during the outbound operation, Flynas had transported 11,342 pilgrims and officials to the holy land in 30 flights in a record time of two weeks.
Mr Kaila said the airline had already delivered 13,832 units of five-litre Zamzam water bottles to Nigeria ahead of the pilgrims’ return.
The airline will airlift pilgrims from Kebbi, Lagos, Osun, Kaduna, Niger, Ogun and Nasarawa states, according to Mr Kaila.
The statement said the Flynas Coordinator of Operations, Malam Ahmad Ruma, urged the airline’s ground staff in Makkah to maintain professionalism and ethical conduct.
