AIRLINE - Handling firms ground Nigeria's MaxAir over debt

The Aviation Ground Handlers Association of Nigeria (AGHAN) has suspended all services to
MaxAir (Nigeria) (VM, Katsina), except its Hajj operations, over an estimated NGN1 billion
naira (USD735,000) debt, the BusinessDay newspaper has reported.
"We took the decisive action on Max Air today (June 11, 2026) because the airline refused to
negotiate with us. 

While the other debtor airlines are negotiating with us, Max Air has blatantly refused to negotiate with the handling companies," AGHAN chairperson Olaniyi Adigun said.

MaxAir has been struggling with financial issues for years. 

While it nominally operates ten commercial aircraft, four out of its five B737-300s, its sole B737-400, and one of two B747-400s are in long-term storage, while the fifth B737-300 was parked on May 11, 2026. 

This leaves the airline with a recently active fleet comprising one B737-500, one B747-400, and
one B777-200.

The airline did not respond to ch-aviation's request for comment.

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Nigerian Carrier Max Air Returns Boeing 747 to Active Service

Photos: Max Air

 

NEW AIRCRAFT - Max Air welcomes 1st B777

 Max Air from Nigeria welcomed its first Boeing B777 on 11 June 2023. The aircraft, B777-246 5N-BBN (27653), arrived at Kano after a ferry flight that routed Marana (AZ), Tucson (AZ), and Bangor (MN). It's the first Triple Seven for the airline.

Before joining Max Air, this B777 was operated by Japan Airlines as JA773J between May 2007 and February 2021. Interesting to note is, that it still features decals of its special "Tokyo 2020, Fly for it!"-livery.

Next to its new plane, Max Air's fleet consists of five B737-300s, one B737-400, two B747-400s, one ERJ135, and one ERJ145.

Photo from Max Air video.

Scramble

AIRLINE - Max Air (Nigeria)

Rebranded from Mangal Airlines in 2008, Max Air is a Nigerian charter operator based at Katsina Airport. Max Air operate a fleet of Boeing narrowbody and widebody aircraft on various charter missions across the globe. The carrier has specialist experience in providing services for the annual Hajj pilgrimage

Photo: Sander in West-Africa

5N-DMB / Boeing 737-3H4 - Abuja Int'l Airport - DNAA, Nigeria

MaxAir adds maiden B737

MaxAir (Nigeria) (VM, Katsina) has taken delivery of its first B737-300 following the arrival of 5N-DMB (msn 28331) in Kano from Tucson Int'l this past weekend.
In a statement to the Nigerian press, Director Operations, Captain Ibrahim Dilli, said the carrier had acquired three B737s, the remaining two of which would deliver in the coming days.
Once in-country, MaxAir will deploy the aircraft on scheduled flights between Lagos, Kano, and Abuja. No launch date has yet been revealed.
MaxAir also has three B747-400s which it uses for Hajj charter flights.

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