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| Founded | 2008 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hubs | Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport | ||||||
| Focus cities | Kano, Abuja, Lagos, Jeddah | ||||||
| Fleet size | 7 | ||||||
| Destinations | 12 | ||||||
| Headquarters | Kano, Nigeria | ||||||
| Key people |
| ||||||
| Website | maxair.com.ng | ||||||
Max Air is a domestic[2] and international airline based in Nigeria,[1] the country's longest-serving international airline. Established in 2008 by business mogul Alhaji Dahiru Barau Mangal, the company's head office is located in Kano State with its base at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
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. In June 2018, Max Air began domestic operations to three destinations which include Abuja, Lagos from the airline's main hub (Kano).[4] On November 1, 2018, Max Air announces 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.
Max Air is being operating in seven domestic and 2 international scheduled destinations in states across Nigeria and the Middle East (as of August 2019).
| Hub | |
| Future | |
| Terminated route | |
| Suspended route |
| City | Country | IATA | ICAO | Airport | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abuja |  Nigeria |
ABV | DNAA | Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport | |
| Bauchi | Nigeria |
BCU | DNBC | Bauchi State Airport | |
| Benin City | Nigeria |
BNI | DNBE | Benin Airport | |
| Jeddah |  Saudi Arabia |
JED | OEJN | King Abdulaziz International Airport | |
| Kano | Nigeria |
KAN | DNKN | Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport | |
| Katsina | Nigeria |
DKA | DNKT | Umaru Musa Yar'adua Airport | |
| Lagos | Nigeria |
LOS | DNMM | Murtala Muhammed International Airport | |
| Madinah | Saudi Arabia |
MED | OEMA | Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport | |
| Maiduguri | Nigeria |
MIU | DNMA | Maiduguri International | |
| Owerri | Nigeria |
QOW | DNIM | Sam Mbakwe Airport | |
| Port Harcourt | Nigeria |
PHC | DNPO | Port Harcourt International Airport | |
| Sokoto, Nigeria | Nigeria |
SKO | DNSO | Sadiq Abubakar III International Airport | |
| Yola | Nigeria |
YOL | DNYO | Yola Airport |
As of June 2023, the Max Air fleet consists of the following aircraft:[5]
| Aircraft | Active | Orders | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-300 | 4 | — | |
| Boeing 747-400 | 2 | — | 5N-ADM stored, 5N-HMM active |
| Boeing 777-200 | 1 | — |
On July 11, 2019, Max Air launches its first in-flight quarterly magazine titled In-flight Magazine which is the first of its kind in Nigeria's domestic aviation industry history. Max Air In-flight Magazine is published by Zamkah Technologies Limited,[6] an international company based in Nigeria,[1] which is a Nigerian privately owned business.
On May 7, 2023, a Max Air aircraft experienced a landing incident at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja due to a tire burst. While concluding its Yola to Abuja journey, the aircraft, registered as 5N-MBD, safely evacuated all 143 passengers and an infant with no injuries reported. Swift response from emergency services ensured passenger safety and comfort, prompting subsequent flight cancellations at the Abuja airport. Investigations into the tire burst's cause were initiated by the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB)Auwalu Abdullahi Rano.[7][8]
In a separate development, 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.[9][10]
