The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has said that despite the indefinite suspension of operations of Max Air Airlines by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, the development will not affect the airlift operations of pilgrims from Saudi Arabia.
In a statement signed by NAHCON’s Deputy Director, Information & Publications Division, Mousa Ubandawaki, the Commission said the clarification became necessary to “assuage and calm the pilgrims and relatives back at home that the suspension order is limited to their domestic air services which does not affect their charter and international operations.
Ubandawaki disclosed that the NCAA’s clampdown on the airline was on its Boeing 737 aircraft which has been the crux of the regulatory body’s audit query for some time.
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Recall that the NCAA, in a letter dated July 12 and signed by the Agency’s Director of Operations, Training and Licensing, Capt. Ibrahim Dambazau, had said the suspension followed an audit of four incidents involving the aircraft between May 7 and July 11, 2023.
The letter also read that with the suspension, the airline was “to immediately suspend the operations of all Boeing B737 aircraft in your fleet.”
NAHCON however said the aircraft in use for the airlift of Nigerian pilgrims, was not the same as the one used on their domestic routes, and assured Nigerians that the airlift of the pilgrims will “continue undisturbed”.
“The clampdown was on the Airline’s Boeing 737 aircraft which has been the crux of the NCAA audit query for some time. The aircraft being used for the airlift of Nigerian Pilgrims is not the same as the one on their domestic route.
Therefore, the Commission wishes to assure all Nigerians and the pilgrims in particular, that the ongoing airlift of Nigerian pilgrims will continue undisturbed and that the Airline will continue to utilize the slots allocated to it by the Saudi General Authority in Civil Aviation (GACA) unhindered”.
The Commission thanked Nigerians and the pilgrims for their patience and perseverance and reiterated its commitment to airlifting all Nigerian pilgrims back to the country “in record time”.
(Punch)
