We did not suspend FLYNAS from airlifting pilgrims – NAHCON

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Sunday said it had not suspended FLYNAS, one of the air carries transporting pilgrims back to Nigeria.

A statement issued in Mecca by Uba Mana, the Director, Public Affairs of the commission, said the airline was only directed to use sister airlines to complement its operation.

He said the arrangement would enable the airline recover lost flights to avoid subjecting the affected pilgrims to unnecessary delay in Mecca.

“For the avoidance of doubt, FLYNAS is still very much part of the ongoing outbound flight exercise to Nigeria.’’

He also said that the airline remained the official carrier of Kaduna State pilgrims, adding that airlines on rescue operation were still using the original slots allocated to FLYNAS.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the decision to direct FLYNAS to seek the assistance of other airlines followed pilgrims’ discomfort with the schedules.

The Emir of Kano and Leader of the Central Coordinating Committee, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II, had to intervene to calm down the affected pilgrims, most of them from Kaduna state.