Despite the economic downturn and increase in airfares, airlines operating in Nigeria have commenced airlifting of 80,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
Industry watchers say these numbers of pilgrims are quite huge for a country currently faced with several economic issues, resulting to low purchasing power of consumers.
“I chose not to miss out on the hajj trip this year despite the amount of money I had to pay to purchase tickets. As far I am concerned, the trip means a lot to me than the money I spent,” a pilgrim who craved anonymity says, at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos.
The pilgrim says “the condition of the country currently needs the intervention of God, and that is part of the reasons the pilgrims have to seek the face of God to intervene in the situation.”
The Federal Government has approved six airlines to airlift Nigerian pilgrims for this year’s hajj. They are Medview Airlines Limited, Max Air Limited, Dornier Aviation Nigeria AEP Limited, Top Brass, AZMAN Air Services, and Fly-Nas Air, a Saudi Arabia designated carrier. The approved airlines will airlift pilgrims from different states of the federation to the holy land.
In a statement signed by Uba Mana, head of media, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), notes that the government has also approved two companies, NAHCO Aviance and Medview International Travels and Cargo, to airfreight pilgrims’ excess cargo during the hajj exercise.
Mana said: “NAHCON therefore, called on the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to accord the appointed carriers all the necessary logistic and consular supports to enable them have a smooth plan and execution of their assignment through prompt issuance of necessary visa for their officials as well as officers of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).”
According to Muneer Bankole, managing director, Medview Airline, “from the international tour operator, we should be looking at uplifting 5000 pilgrims and from the external country, which we major in, we are looking at 5000 pilgrims.”
The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (nahco aviance) has estimated that it will handle a minimum of 99 outbound and 105 inbound flights from 10 airports across Nigeria, saying it will facilitate the ongoing airlift of thousands of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
Ahmed Bashir Gulma, head of corporate services of the company, says NAHCO is collaborating with the airlines, the NAHCON and the Federal Government in ensuring that Muslims on pilgrimage get excellent passenger handling on their way to and from the holy land.
The airports on the schedule of NAHCO include Abuja, Sokoto, Katsina, Ilorin and Bauchi. Others are Gombe, Maiduguri, Yola, Minna, and Kaduna.
Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) has also commenced the provision of handling services for the 2016 hajj operations, with the take off of Medview Airlines B747-400 aircraft first flight from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Hajj/Cargo Terminal to Saudi Arabia with about 450 pilgrims.
Basil Agboarumi, spokesman for SAHCOL, says the firm shall be providing total ground handling services, covering ramp, passenger and baggage to the three officially accredited airlines (Medview Airline, Max Air and Fly Nas) to ferry pilgrims and their baggage to and from Saudi Arabia this year.
