The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has said the three air carriers disqualified from transporting Nigerian pilgrims to the 2016 Hajj were those not cleared by the Saudi Arabian aviation authorities.

The Head of Aviation of NAHCON, Alhaji Mohammadu Goni, told newsmen in Abuja that the affected airlines include Dornier Aviation Nigeria AEP Ltd; Top Brass and Azman Air Services.

It would be recalled that the federal government had approved six airline operators to transport intending pilgrims for the exercise. Goni, however, said the General Authority of Civil Aviation of Saudi Arabia (GACA) cleared only three airlines out of the six.

He said the airlines approved by the Saudi authorities are: Med-View Airlines Ltd.; Max Air Ltd. and Fly-Nas Air (Saudi Arabian designated carrier). Goni said only these three airlines were designated to fly the route between the two countries. (NAN)