Barring any change of plans, the airlift of Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj pilgrimage initially scheduled to take place on the 6th of May has been shifted to May 9, Hajj Reporters can authoritatively report.
Highly placed multiple sources who confirmed the development to HAJJ REPORTERS said the postponement is meant to ensure all necessary logistics are in place before the airlift commences.
“ Yes, the inaugural flight has been rescheduled from May 6 to May 9 due to some logistical issues. We are currently working on modalities to fix all the issues and begin the airlifting on May 9” the source said.
HAJJ REPORTERS reports that the first flight carrying 2025 Hajj pilgrims will arrive in Saudi Arabia on the 29th of April 2025.
According to the Saudi Arabian General Authority of Civil Aviation GACA the last batch of pilgrims is expected to land in the country on the 31st of May 2025, being the closing day for the first phase of the 2025 Hajj Airlift.
The shifting of the commencement of airlift from 6th of May to 9th of May means Nigeria’s Hajj Air carriers has 22 days to airlift about 52,000 Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia before the closure of Saudi airspace for the first phase of airlift of international pilgrims.
