Soliu Oyesiji.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has begun strategic consultations with airlines and Hajj operators to strengthen preparations for the 2026 pilgrimage and address lingering operational challenges.
The meeting, held on February 5, 2026, at the authority’s headquarters in Abuja, brought together Hajj airlines and the Association for Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON) to review flight schedules, airport operations, aircraft deployment, and projected pilgrim numbers.
Representing the Director-General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo, the Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards and Hajj Committee Chairman, Ahmad Abba, said the engagement was designed to provide a coordinated platform for stakeholders to fine-tune operational plans and ensure a seamless airlift exercise.
He stressed that early planning and effective stakeholder collaboration remain critical to achieving safe, efficient, and timely transportation of pilgrims, adding that lessons from previous Hajj operations guided the deliberations.
The meeting examined challenges encountered in past Hajj exercises and assessed the level of preparedness of participating airlines for the 2026 operations. Discussions covered aircraft types and deployment capacity, GACA slot allocations, as well as fueling and ground handling services in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
Airlines present, including Air Peace, Flynas, Max Air and UMZA Air, outlined their operational readiness and identified specific challenges requiring regulatory attention and collective solutions.
Director of Air Transport Regulation, Olayinka Babaoye-Iriobe, also highlighted the need to review the Bilateral Air Services Agreement between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia to improve efficiency in Hajj airlift operations.
