The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Jeddah

  • Hajj 2018: Pilgrims return on Monday

    On Monday, August 27, the first batch of Nigerian pilgrims that performed the 2018 Hajj exercise will be airlifted back home, according to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

    The return flight will commence with pilgrims from Kogi State aboard Flynas Airline en route the country via Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NZIA) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

    This was disclosed in an official statement by NAHCON, following a meeting with Hajj carriers in Jedda, Saudi Arabia; the commission stated that the pilgrims will commence their return journey from King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah to NZIA, Abuja.

    At the conference, NAHCON and the Hajj carriers agreed on flight modalities, among other operational strategies at ensuring a hitch-free airlift of Nigerian pilgrims back to the country.

    It is expected that the return journey would be faster than the inward journey into Saudi Arabia simply over 9 per cent of the pilgrims, according to NAHCON, are ready for the airlift back home.

    Officials of the State Pilgrims Welfare Boards and FCT have been enjoined to cooperate and ensure a smooth airlift back home in accordance with the flight schedule that was given to them.

    Read also: Hajj 2018: Pilgrims return on Monday

    It would be recalled that the Nation reported earlier, that NAHCON chairman, Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammad, disclosed that the Kogi State contingent to the Hajj exercise will be given preference at the commencement of return flight operations.

    Muhammad made the assertion, stressing that the pilgrims from Kogi State will be the first beneficiaries of the return flight because they were the first to arrive in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj exercise.

    The first batch of 445 pilgrims from Kogi State arrived in Madinah aboard the inaugural flight for this year’s Hajj on July 21, 2018

    They were transported by Max Air to Prince Muhammad Abdullaziz International Airport, Madinah via the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

     

  • Medview to begin flight services to Jeddah

    Medview Airlines has concluded plans to commence flight operations into Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia.

    The new service is part of efforts by the airline to consolidate operations on the international routes it was designated by the Federal Government.  This is coming barely 17 days after it commenced direct flight operations from Lagos to London.

    This exists as the airline on Monday unveiled its latest aircraft, Boeing 737-800 from Slovakia to the media.

    The Managing Director, Med-View, Alhaji Muneer Bankole while unveiling the new aircraft said that the airline would commence two weekly flights from Lagos to Kano to Jeddah with plans to increase the frequencies to four in the coming months.

    He declared that the aircraft, which landed at the international wing of the airport on Sunday evening was leased from Air Explore in Slovakia and would be used for the Jeddah route from December 31, 2015.

    The aircraft with the registration number OM-GEX is configured for 176 passengers; eight business class seats and 176 economy seats.

    Apart from the Jeddah route, which the aircraft would be deployed, he said the aircraft would immediately commence flight operations on its Yola route, which has since been increased from once daily to twice daily.
    Besides, he further disclosed that the airline had been designated to 17 international and regional routes, including seven in Africa, which it would continue to explore and operate into.

    He added that in the couple of weeks, it would expand its Port Harcourt operations to two from the existing one daily.

    Commenting on its Lagos-London flights, Bankole hinted that the flights had been increasing on a daily basis and expressed confidence that it would continue to grow.
    He said, “We chose Gatwick instead of Heathrow airport because the airport has a limited challenge. From Heathrow alone, we have three airlines that are operating direct daily flights; British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Arik Air, but we are the only one operating from Gatwick.

    “As it is today, all our flights out of Lagos to London are fully booked till the end of January. I don’t know whether to call it acceptance or something else, but one thing I know is that our flights have been increasing daily and I want to thank Nigerians for this.

    “Also, our flights to and from Accra route, which we started about 14 months ago have been increasing and regularly full. We are also planning Dubai operations in the first quarter of 2016 and that is how we hope to grow and consolidate on our operations.”

    Also speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Air Explore, Slovakia, Mr. Martin Stulajter, commended management of Med-View for the existing relationship between the two organisations.

    Stulajter assured that the existing relationship would continue as the airline had proved to be reliable and consistent in its business development plans.

  • MedView kicks off direct flights to Jeddah

    The Federal Government has designated Med-View as flag carrier to Saudi Arabia. As a result, the airline has commenced flights to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

    The four-weekly flights are sequel to the approval the firm secured from the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority (GACA).

    The Managing Director of the airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, said the flights would be routed through Lagos-Abuja-Jeddah and Lagos-Kano-Jeddah.

    This is just as the schedule released by the airline coincides with the this year’s Hajj airlift to accommodate international passengers who will not be on the platform of the states’ Pilgrims Welfare Boards for the pilgrimage, and others not on pilgrimage.

    The flights, which started on September 6, according to Bankole, will run throughout summer.

    The GACA, Bankole said, has also okayed the winter schedule for the weekly flights.

    He said the airline will serve the routes  granted it by the Federal Government. They include London, Dubai, Dakar, Accra, Monrovia,  Libreville, Doula.

    He said the airline has continued to maintain its over 10 years’track-record of hitch-free operation in the airlift of pilgrims, saying: “In the 2015 Hajj we operated with much more modern equipment that have business class seats for officials of pilgrims boards from the various from stated that were allocated to us by NAHCON.”

    Med-View airline airlifted pilgrims from Southwest, Southsouth, Southeast states and Borno.

    Meanwhile, a source said the airline was rooting for the Lagos-London route, but details were being kept under wraps until the arrangements had been concluded.

  • Disabled breaks fast with mayor

    Disabled and special needs children in Jeddah attended an iftar organised by the Jeddah Municipality and the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Center under the aegis of Jeddah Mayor Hani Abu Ras.

    The event took place at the Disabled Children’s Association in Jeddah in the presence of senior Jeddah Municipality officials and a group of businessmen. The ceremony was attended by a large number of children who were accompanied by their families.

    Zuhair Maimani, the association’s general director, expressed joy at the gathering.

    “This renews our sense of responsibility and solidarity with the children of this country and helps the children, who also receive gifts, feel that they are part of society,” he said.

    Maimani also praised the efforts made by Abu Ras and Prince Sultan bin Salman, chairman of the board of directors.

    During the event, Abu Ras announced the establishment of three special gardens for disabled children in Jeddah, the first being opened on Prince Sultan Street.