The four local airlines who refused to sign the agreements with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria NAHCON was as a result of the ongoing crisis in Sudan.
Recalled that there has been ongoing war in Sudan which had forced it to shut down its airspace, a development which is pacieved a great obstacle in the airlifting of Nigerian pilgrims to the Holy Land.
Flynas was the only airline which sign the agreement while Max Air, Azman Air, Air Peace and Aero contractors has declined to sign.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) had invited the approved airlines for the signing of agreement on Thursday the 4th of May at the commission.
However, only the Saudi based Flynas signed the agreement while the representatives of other Nigerian airlines refused saying their Chief executive Officers will have to do that after further consultations are made.
Fielding questions from journalists the NAHCON Chairman, Alhaji Zikirullah Kunle Hassan said the representatives of the selected Nigerian airlines have agreed that their Chief Executive Officers will now be responsible for the agreement with the commission.
“This is simply because of the crisis in Sudan. We require all kinds of goodwill to help is in prayer to Allah to bring back peace in the Sudan,” he said.
Alhaji Hassan however stated, that NAHCON have no intention of reviewing the Hajj fare upwards saying,
“we know intending pilgrims are not in a position to pay more. So we will wear our thinking caps and find a better solution”
On his part, NAHCON commissioner in charge of operations Alhaji Abdullahi Magaji Hardawa said the conflict in Sudan has put the airlines in a difficult position.
Hardawa further explained that all the airlines will now require longer flight paths to get to Saudi Arabia as a result it may be a lost to the airlines contrary to the agreed official fare.
He said:
“Airlines are business entities and we want them to be happy and profitable. They are reluctant to sign the agreements not because they are greedy. So we agree with them to go back and consult further,” he said.
He also said the Airlines have agreed to return Tuesday next week for the signing of the agreement.
Explaining further, the Commissioner said Flynas agreed to sign because of an existing Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) and “are conscious of their diplomatic status”.
