Flynas, a Saudi-designated airline for Nigerian Hajj pilgrims, has successfully concluded the return airlift of 13,583 pilgrims to Nigeria within a span of 16 days.
This was revealed by Alhaji Umar Kaila, Managing Director of First Planet Travels and General Sales Agent (GSA) for Flynas in Nigeria, following the arrival of the final group of pilgrims at the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi, on Sunday.
During the return phase of the 2025 Hajj exercise, Flynas operated 30 flights to complete the repatriation of its assigned pilgrims.
“With immense gratitude to Allah (SWT), Flynas has concluded its 2025 Hajj operations in Nigeria as the last batch of 418 pilgrims landed in Birnin Kebbi at 2:10 p.m. on Sunday,” a statement from the Flynas Nigeria Media Office, signed by Umma Salama Kyaure, quoted Kaila as saying.
Flynas was one of four airlines chosen for the 2025 Hajj operations in Nigeria and was the first to complete the return flights of its allocated pilgrims ahead of schedule.
All returning pilgrims traveled with their authorized 8kg hand luggage, 32kg main luggage, and received a 5-litre bottle of Zamzam water.
The airline deployed nine aircraft to serve pilgrims from Osun, Lagos, Ogun, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Flights operated from several Nigerian airports, including Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Birnin Kebbi, and Sultan Abubakar III International Airport in Sokoto.
In total, Flynas flew:
- 1,772 pilgrims back through Abuja
- 3,830 through Birnin Kebbi
- 4,622 through Sokoto
- 3,359 through Lagos
The airline extended congratulations to all its Nigerian pilgrims for a smooth return from Saudi Arabia.
“On behalf of Flynas, I sincerely thank the pilgrims for their cooperation throughout the outbound and return journeys, the officials of the state pilgrims’ boards from Kebbi, Lagos, Sokoto, Osun, Zamfara, Ogun, and the FCT for their professionalism, and NAHCON for its effective coordination of the entire operation,” Kaila said.