Medview Airlines air lifts 2,400 pilgrims to Medina as Oyo partners airline to fly Pilgrims from Ibadan Airport

 Medview Airlines yesterday consolidated its air lifting of Muslim pilgrims to Medina, Saudi Arabia from the Murtala Muhammed International and Ilorin International  Airports .
 According to the managing director of Medview Airlines, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, before the end of this week, the entire 5,500 pilgrims allotted to the airline would have been flown to the Holy Land from three zones namely : Lagos, Ilorin and Port Harcourt.
 He said the airline has put everything in place to ensure hitch free air lifting if the pilgrims, from states in the South West including : Ogun , Oyo , Osun, Ekiti, Kwara and others.
 He said the air lifting has been made possible in line with the terms of reference set for the airline by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria ( NAHCON).
Only yesterday Oyo State Government sealed a deal with the airline to fly  some of the pilgrims into Murtala Muhammed international airport, Lagos  from the airport in ibadan .
The pilgrims as early as 12.00 pm were at the Ibadan Airport awaiting the arrival from aircraft that moved them to Lagos.
Addressing the pilgrims at Ibadan Airport, Bankole urged the pilgrims to comply with the regulations as the airline would facilitate seamless movement into the Holy Land.
 Most of the passengers who boarded the Boeing 737 - 500 Medview Airlines aircraft were excited over the flight lauding efforts by the state government to make the trip stress free.
 Bankole called on government to assist airlines to keep their operations afloat 
 The airline said it has deployed two Boeing 747 and Boeing 767 aircraft to airports in Lagos and Ilorin  that would simultaneously fly pilgrims into Medina, in Saudi Arabia.
 Speaking at a pre-departure briefing at the hajj camp axis of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, the managing director of  Medview Airlines, Alhaji Muneer Bankole said the airline will complete the  in bound air lifting of pilgrims at the designated zones this week , even as he assured that all logistics have been mobilised to ensure the seamless movement if the pilgrims.
 Bankole said the airline in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of  Health and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria ( NAHCON) to sensitive the pilgrims on how to avoid being afflicted with Coronal Virus that is prevalent in Saudi Arabia .
 He said it is for such readies that children are not allowed to participate in the exercise , even as he said the airline would not board any  unmarried  female pilgrims that is not accompanied by a male guarantor .
Bankole said :" We have commenced 2013 air lifting of Muslim pilgrims from Lagos and Ilorin zones and we will be  flying 517 passenger today with the Boeing 747 aircraft to Medina in Saudi Arabia.
 We are operating from three zones, Lagos , Ilorin and Port Harcourt .
 The pilgrims will be flown to Medina. As an airline we will provide clothing materials and water for the males and females. 
 We have B747 and B767 aircraft already in place to make the flight hitch free.
 All adequate arrangements has been made like we did last year  to ensure that any female that is not accompanied by a male is not allowed to board.
 From the Medview Airlines point of view, We would provide some materials for the pilgrims." 
 He further said : " About 5,500 pilgrims  will be airlifted from Lagos, Ilorin, and Port Harcourt.
 That is the number of pilgrims allotted to us fir this year.
 Besides the Boeing 747 aircraft we have in Lagos , We have deployed another Boeing 767 aircraft in Ilorin zone.
We are fully prepared for this programme, we insist that all pilgrims abide by the laws, concerning unaccompanied singles.
 We would conclude  by October 19, 2013.
 We have done this  Hajj thirty times, it shows we have core competence in this business.
 We have collaborated with officials of Ministry of Health to sensitive the pilgrims on how to stay healthy and avoid any infection with the coronal virus that was reported in Saudi Arabia at the time.
 The ministry of health and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has carried out sufficient enlightenment to ensure that the pilgrims are equipped with enough knowledge to avoid any contamination of coronal virus. 
 That is why children are not allowed.  We would conclude by weekend  the in bound leg of the flights into Saudi Arabia  and commence the out bound airlifting from Saudi Arabia from October 19, 2013.
We have begun the airlift with pilgrims from Osun State, Ogun State, while other states in the South West will continue in the week.
 We have sufficiently mobilised to ensure there is no hitch in the programme . "