// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Max Air say to his date? You blow me away.
 | |||||||
 Max Air 737-300 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Founded | 2008 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hubs | Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport | ||||||
| Fleet size | 10 | ||||||
| Destinations | 12 | ||||||
| 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.
History
[edit]
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
[edit]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 |
| 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 | |
| Medina | 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 | SKO | DNSO | Sadiq Abubakar III International Airport | |
| Yola | Nigeria | YOL | DNYO | Yola Airport |
Fleet
[edit]As of August 2025[update], Max Air operates the following aircraft:[10]
| Aircraft | Active | Orders | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-300 | 5 | — | 4 stored |
| Boeing 737-400 | 1 | — | |
| Boeing 747-400 | 3 | — | |
| Boeing 777-200 | 1 | — | |
| Total | 10 | — |
Former fleet
[edit]Accidents and incidents
[edit]- On May 7, 2023, a 737-400 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, although the aircraft was destroyed. 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).[11][12]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 ch-aviation.com - Max Air (Nigeria) retrieved 8 February 2017
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Mangal Airlines". Airline History. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
- 1 2 "Max Air suspended from domestic flights". The Nigerian Observer. 2023-07-14. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
- ↑ "Max Air set to begin domestic flight operations - Punch Newspapers". The Punch. 2018-06-27. Retrieved 2019-08-11.
- ↑ "In-flight Magazine - In-flight Media and Technologies". Archived from the original on 2019-08-25. Retrieved 2019-08-25.
- ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: Audit Report Reveals Max Air Presented Altered Records, Serviced Aircrafts [sic] With Unauthorized Engineers". Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ↑ "Max Air: Reps to probe alleged use of contaminated fuel in aviation industry". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ↑ Agabi, Chris (2018-07-12). "Max Air launches domestic operations, promises timely departures". Daily Trust. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
- ↑ "Global Airline Guide 2025 - Max Air". Airliner World. September 2025. p. 69.
- ↑ "Max Air Landing Incident At Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja Airport On 7th May 2023". Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ↑ "Over 143 Passengers Escape Death as Max Air Crash-Lands in Abuja". This Day. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Max Air at Wikimedia Commons
