No rejection, no safety issue - Ogun clarifies Hajj flight rearrangement

The Ogun State Government dismissed a media report alleging that Saudi airline Flynas rejected Gateway International Airport for transporting pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2026 Hajj. According to a statement, the flight rearrangement was due to Saudi aviation authorities' inability to secure a landing slot for Max Air, the designated carrier by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria. The airport, commissioned on April 4, 2026, is certified for Hajj operations and has undergone multiple technical and safety audits.