Saudi-designated carrier Flynas will begin the return airlift of Nigerian pilgrims on June 4, 2026, starting with contingents from Ogun and Kebbi states.
The airline disclosed this in a statement signed by Mr Mahmood Muhammad Abande of the Flynas Media Office.
According to him, six A330 wide-body Boeing aircraft have been deployed for the inbound operation.
The first flight is scheduled to depart King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah for the Gateway International Airport in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
A second flight on the same day will convey the first batch of pilgrims from Kebbi State to Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi.
Flynas said two additional flights have been scheduled for June 5 from Jeddah to Abeokuta and Birnin Kebbi respectively.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of First Planet Travels Limited and General Sales Agent for Flynas in Nigeria, Alhaji Umar Kaila, said arrangements had been concluded to ensure a seamless return operation in line with international best practices.
He noted that the airline transported 11,342 pilgrims and officials to Saudi Arabia during the outbound phase in 30 flights conducted over two weeks.
Kaila also disclosed that Flynas had delivered 13,832 units of five-litre Zamzam water bottles to Nigeria ahead of the return phase.
He said the return operation would cover pilgrims from Kebbi, Lagos, Osun, Kaduna, Niger, Ogun and Nasarawa states.
Flynas Coordinator of Operations, Ahmad Ruma, met with ground staff in Makkah on Monday to review operational procedures, guidelines and logistics for the exercise.
Ruma urged personnel to maintain high standards of professionalism and ethical conduct, particularly in luggage handling at airports and pilgrims’ accommodation facilities.
