Med-View Airline Plc, one of the official carriers involved in the airlift of Muslim Pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, on Monday commenced the airlift of intending pilgrims from Kaduna International Airport.

The airline is airlifting 1,600 pilgrims from Kaduna as the first flight took off by 7:10 pm with 313 pilgrims to Prince Mohammed Bn Abdul-Aziz International Airport, Madinah.

The intending pilgrims after undergoing the requisite screening jointly conducted by relevant authorities including officials of the Kaduna State Muslim Pilgrims' Welfare Board (KDSMPB) and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) boarded the airline's Boeing 777-200 ER aircraft.

Med-View is one of the two carriers airlifting pilgrims from Kaduna state.

The airline, according to the Managing Director, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, has acquired the new generation aircraft for more comfort and convenience of the pilgrims to the holy land.

Chief Pilot of Med-View Airline, Capt. Stephen Fevrier said the airline will continue to improve on its services to the state and by extension the pilgrims. This explains why the airline has introduced a new aircraft for better comfort of the passengers, he said.

"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."

Overseer of KDMPWB, Imam Hussain Sulaiman commended Med-View airline for its consistency in the airlift of pilgrims from Kaduna state, saying the airline would airlift about the same number of pilgrims allocated to the other carrier contracted for the exercise.

He said, "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.

"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".