Max Air has announced that it will resume full flight operations following the successful completion of its scheduled maintenance programme.
In a statement issued by the airline’s management, it said normal flight schedules will resume on Monday, June 15, 2026.
“Max Air is pleased to announce that following the successful completion of our scheduled maintenance programme, all flight operations will return to their regular schedules effective Monday, 15 June 2026,” the airline said.
The airline explained that the maintenance exercise was part of its commitment to safety and regulatory standards.
“The maintenance was carried out as part of our commitment to safety, operational excellence, and regulatory compliance, with all required inspections and checks completed in accordance with industry standards,” it stated.
Max Air also expressed appreciation to passengers and stakeholders for their patience during the period of disrupted operations.
“We sincerely thank our passengers, partners, and stakeholders for their patience, understanding, and continued support,” the statement added. “We look forward to welcoming you on board and continuing to provide the safe, reliable, and quality service you trust.”
The airline said the maintenance was in line with its operational standards and safety obligations.
The statement was signed by the management of Max Air.
Last Thursday, Max Air’s domestic flight operations were thrown into disarray after aviation ground handling companies withdrew their services to the airline over unpaid debts.
The action, led by members of the Aviation Ground Handlers Association of Nigeria (AGHAN), reportedly grounded Max Air’s domestic operations nationwide and marked the association’s first major enforcement move against defaulting carriers.
AGHAN Chairman, Olaniyi Adigun, explained that the decision followed the airline’s refusal to engage ground handling firms in reconciling and settling its outstanding obligations, despite repeated efforts to resolve the matter amicably.
He noted that while other indebted airlines have opened discussions with the handling companies and are making progress toward repayment agreements, Max Air has remained unresponsive.
“While the other debtor airlines are negotiating with us, Max Air has blatantly refused to negotiate with the handling companies,” Adigun said.
“Some of the other debtor airlines are already on the verge of signing Memoranda of Understanding with our members on debt repayment. This action should serve as a signal to other airlines that ground handling companies can no longer continue to provide services without payment.”
Adigun, however, assured that the airline’s ongoing hajj flights would not be affected by the sanctions. He explained that handling charges for hajj operations are paid directly by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, insulating the pilgrimage flights from the dispute.
Findings revealed that Max Air’s indebtedness to the two major ground handling firms, Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc and Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc, is estimated at about ₦1 billion.
The enforcement action follows months of disagreements between ground handlers and several airlines over mounting unpaid service charges.
AGHAN had earlier threatened to withdraw services from indebted carriers, initially setting May 1, 2026, as the enforcement date.
The move was later suspended in observance of Workers’ Day and to preserve industrial harmony.
Subsequently, the association issued a fresh three-day ultimatum, demanding immediate account reconciliation and concrete repayment plans from affected airlines.