…as pilgrims board commends airline for consistency
Posted by Sade Williams
Med-View Airline on Monday night at the Kaduna International Airport, airlifted 322 persons comprising of 312 pilgrims and 10 officials from the state aboard Boeing 777-200 series Extended Range with registration number 5N-BVY to Medina, Saudi Arabia.
The airlift of the Kaduna State pilgrims is coming few days after the airline airlifted 320 pilgrims from Lagos State, a development that signaled the commencement of this year’s Hajj operations by Med- View Airline.
At the Kaduna International Airport, officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) were seen profiling the intending pilgrims to ensure that they have the necessary documents.
The ground handling service was for Med-View Airline was provided by Butake Resources Limited Aviation Handling Services.
Speaking to journalists at Kaduna Airport shortly before the departure of the pilgrims, the Chief Pilot, Med-View Airline, Capt. Stephen Fevrier, stated that the airline would continue to improve on its services to the state and by extension the pilgrims.
He added that this explains why the airline introduced a new aircraft for better comfort of the passengers.
According to him, “We are happy to be here again. We are not new in Kaduna. We were here last year with 767. This year we are here with Boeing 777 which is a new addition to Med-View fleet.”
Also speaking, the Overseer Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Imam Hussain Sulaiman said the Hajj operation has been smooth, adding that the state government and Kaduna State Government and the Kaduna Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board have been trying their best to ensure a successful airlift of the pilgrims from the state .
He said that a total of 1,600 have been airlifted from the state, adding already Max Air has airlifted a total of 320 pilgrims while Med-View also airlifted the same number of pilgrims .
According to him, “The second company that was engaged by the Kaduna State Government to airlift Kaduna State Pilgrims is starting now. Today Med-View is carrying 313 intending pilgrims from Kaduna state and subsequently it would carry the remaining.”
He continued, “They will have not less than 1,600 pilgrims from Kaduna State to carry to the holy land. The airlift has been going on smoothly and the Kaduna State Government and the Kaduna Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board are doing their best to make the airlift hitch-free”.
He advised pilgrims to be good ambassador of Kaduna state in particular and Nigeria in general.
On whether there is any area that should be improved on as it concerns Hajj operations, the Overseer said, “if things are going the way they are going, we are happy and there is always room for improvement.”