Max Air

Last updated
Max Air
Max Air logo.jpg
IATA ICAO Call sign
VM [1] NGL [1] MAXAIR NIGERIA
Founded2008;17 years ago (2008)
Hubs Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport
Fleet size10
Destinations12
Headquarters Kano, Nigeria
Key people Alhaji Dahiru Barau Mangal (Chairman)
Website maxair.com.ng

Max Air is a Nigerian airline operating domestic and international flights. [1] [2] Established in 2008 by Alhaji Dahiru Barau Mangal, the company's head office is located in Kano State with its base at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

Contents

History

Both Max Air Boeing 747-400s stored at Pinal Airpark in 2021. 5N-HMM and 5N-ADM 5N-ADM - Boeing 747-422 Max Air, Pinal Air Park.jpg
Both Max Air Boeing 747-400s stored at Pinal Airpark in 2021.

Max Air is one of Nigeria's airlines, operating a domestic, regional and international flight network. The airline was established in 2006 as Mangal Airlines and rebranded Max Air in 2008 [3] operating its first commercial flight to King Abdulaziz International Airport from Kano. The airline began its operations with two Boeing 747-400 aircraft for its Umrah and Hajj operation services. [4]

In June 2018, Max Air began domestic operations to Abuja and Lagos from the airline's main hub, Kano. [5] On November 1, 2018, Max Air announced two new routes to its domestic operations which include Port Harcourt and Yola as part of its expansion drive. On November 5, Maiduguri route was launched by the airline, making it the 6th domestic destination to its operational routes. [4]

On July 11, 2019, Max Air became the first Nigerian airline to have an in-flight magazine on its domestic routes. [6]

In 2023, an audit exposed severe safety violations by Max Airline, leading to a Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) suspension. Over 28 critical safety issues were identified within the airline's fleet, including altered records submission and neglect of necessary replacements. Discrepancies in landing gear airworthiness and maintenance personnel certification were evident.The audit highlighted deficient safety directives management and unauthorized personnel performing crucial tasks. [7] [8]

Destinations

As of August 2019, Max Air is operating in seven domestic and 2 international scheduled destinations in states across Nigeria and the Middle East: [9]

Hub
Future
Terminated route
Suspended route
CityCountryIATAICAOAirportRefs
Abuja Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria ABVDNAA Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport
Bauchi Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria BCUDNBC Bauchi State Airport
Benin City Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria BNIDNBE Benin Airport
Jeddah Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Saudi Arabia JEDOEJN King Abdulaziz International Airport
Kano Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria KANDNKN Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport
Katsina Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria DKADNKT Umaru Musa Yar'adua Airport
Lagos Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria LOSDNMM Murtala Muhammed International Airport
Madinah Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Saudi Arabia MEDOEMA Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport
Maiduguri Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria MIUDNMA Maiduguri International
Owerri Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria QOWDNIM Sam Mbakwe Airport
Port Harcourt Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria PHCDNPO Port Harcourt International Airport
Sokoto, Nigeria Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria SKODNSO Sadiq Abubakar III International Airport
Yola Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria YOLDNYO Yola Airport

Fleet

MaxAir Boeing 737-300 5NDMB-Maxair-Abuja.jpg
MaxAir Boeing 737-300

As of August 2025, Max Air operates the following aircraft: [10]

MaxAir Fleet
AircraftActiveOrdersNotes
Boeing 737-300 54 stored
Boeing 737-400 1
Boeing 747-400 3
Boeing 777-200 1
Total10

Former fleet

Accidents and incidents

References

  1. 1 2 3 ch-aviation.com - Max Air (Nigeria) retrieved 8 February 2017
  2. "Max Air joins Nigerian domestic market - NTA.ng - Breaking News, Nigeria, Africa, Worldwide". NTA.ng. 2018-06-28. Archived from the original on 2019-08-11. Retrieved 2019-08-11.
  3. "Mangal Airlines". Airline History. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Max Air suspended from domestic flights". Nigerian Observer. 2023-07-14. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  5. "Max Air set to begin domestic flight operations - Punch Newspapers". Punch Newspapers. 2018-06-27. Retrieved 2019-08-11.
  6. "In-flight Magazine - In-flight Media and Technologies" . Retrieved 2019-08-25.
  7. "EXCLUSIVE: Audit Report Reveals Max Air Presented Altered Records, Serviced Aircrafts[sic] With Unauthorized Engineers" . Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  8. "Max Air: Reps to probe alleged use of contaminated fuel in aviation industry" . Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  9. Agabi, Chris (2018-07-12). "Max Air launches domestic operations, promises timely departures - Daily Trust". Dailytrust.com. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
  10. "Global Airline Guide 2025 - Max Air". Airliner World. September 2025. p. 69.
  11. "Max Air Landing Incident At Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja Airport On 7th May 2023" . Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  12. "Over 143 Passengers Escape Death as Max Air Crash-Lands in Abuja" . Retrieved 30 August 2023.