Max Air
Max Air is a Nigerian airline operating domestic and international flights. Established in 2008 by Alhaji Dahiru Barau Mangal, the company's head office is located in Kano State with its base at Kano International Airport">Kano (city)">Kano International Airport, Kano.
History
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 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 Abuja and Lagos from the airline's main hub, Kano. 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.
On July 11, 2019, Max Air became the first Nigerian airline to have an in-flight magazine on its domestic routes.
In 2023, an audit exposed severe safety violations by Max Airline, leading to a Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority 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.
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:| Hub | |
| Future | |
| Terminated route | |
| Suspended route |
Fleet
, Max Air operates the following aircraft:| 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
Accidents and incidents
- 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.