The General Authority on Civil Aviation (GACA) in Saudi Arabia has announced the extension of landing permits for all aircrafts carrying Hajj 2022 pilgrims to midnight on Thursday.
The extension was announced on Wednesday via a circular No 59347/5 citing article 23 of the country’s civil aviation act.
The circular sent to all airlines operating into Saudi Arabia including private aviation stating that it is “ allowing entry to the Kingdom through King Abdulaziz international Airport to whom have pilgrimage visas exceptionally for this year until 11:59pm on Thursday July 7th, 2022.”
The circular warned that “ failure to abide by circulars issued by GACA is a violation of government orders, and legal procedures will be applied to the violator and will be held responsible”.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) had earlier on Wednesday issued a statement claiming that Saudi Arabia had extended landing permits for aircrafts carrying Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi for Hajj following the intervention of the chairman of the commission, Alhaji Zikirullah Kunle Hassan.
NAHCON in the unsigned statement said
a sense of relief may have come to the way of about 3000 Nigerian pilgrims who are yet to be airlifted to Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj with the extension granted by GACA.
The commission said “the reprieve came after a high – level discussion between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia which was led by the Chairman /CEO of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON, in Saudi Arabia”.
NAHCON again assured that with this new development the two Nigerian airlines, Max Air and Azman airline would continue their airlifting operation from where they left off.
The statement also added that the Commission has concluded arrangement with Saudi owned Flynas to operate “three (3)rescue flights for pilgrims in kano and abuja”.
