The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says it has certified two airlines as designated carriers for this year’s Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
A representative of NCAA, Mr Abubakar Saruku, told journalists on Sunday in Lagos that the airlines were Medview and Trade Craft airlines.
He commended the airlines for meeting the safety requirements.
He said that Medview would fly pilgrims from the Lagos zone while Trade Craft would carry international passengers from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.
“I want to seize this opportunity to commend the air carriers for this year’s Hajj operations to the Holy land.
“So far, they have performed beyond our expectations as most of them, especially those from the Lagos zone, have met all the requirements for the exercise.
“For Medview, I want to state categorically that all its aircraft for the exercise have been certified by the agency and they are still flying around the world.
“For Trade Craft, one of their two aircraft has been certified by the NCAA,’’ he said.
A representative of the Medview Airlines, Mrs Victoria Akodu, said the airline was adequately prepared for the exercise and that it would transport 13,000 pilgrims from Lagos and Ilorin zones.
Akodu said that three of the four aircraft which the airline planned to use for the exercise would transport pilgrims while one would be on standby.
Mr Tiamiyu Adepoju, who represented Trade Craft, said the airline’s two Boeing 767 aircraft were airworthy and ready for the exercise.
Adepoju said that one of the aircraft had been certified by the NCAA while the other would be inspected by an NCAA team this week.
He said that the airline would transport 7,000 international pilgrims from Lagos.
About 100,000 Nigerians are expected to participate in this year’s Hajj, which is scheduled to start on October. 26.
Source African Press Agency
