The Saudi designated Nigerian Hajj Carrier Flynas would begin airlift of pilgrims back to Nigeria on Thursday 4th June with first set of pilgrims from Ogun and Kebbi states.

The was announced in a statement signed by Mr Mahmood Muhammad Abande of the Flynas Media Office on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.

The airline said the inbound flights would be executed by six A330 wide-body Boeing aircraft deployed by the company.

The statement said the first return flight will transport the first contingent of Ogun state pilgrims from the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to the newly established Gateway International Airport in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The second return flight, according to the statement, will airlift the first batch of Kebbi state pilgrims from the Jeddah airport to Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, the same day.

The following day, June 5, the airline said it would conduct two additional 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 concluded arrangements to conduct a seamless operation in line with international best practices.

He said during the outbound operation, Flynas had transported 11,342 pilgrims and officials to the holy land in 30 flights in 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, had met with the airline ground staff in Makkah on Monday to review operational procedures, guidelines, and logistics ahead of the outbound operation.

Mr Ruma urged the ground staff to uphold professionalism and ethics the airline is known for as they are deployed to the airport, and pilgrims accommodations in Makkah for the management of pilgrims luggage.