Nigerian airline Max Air has grounded all domestic flights after the Aviation Ground Handlers Association of Nigeria suspended services on June 11, 2026, citing unpaid debts estimated at approximately N1 billion. The action marked the first major enforcement move by the ground handlers’ umbrella body against a defaulting carrier, effectively halting operations across the country’s domestic routes.
AGHAN Chairman Olaniyi Adigun said the decision followed Max Air’s refusal to engage in reconciliation talks despite repeated attempts to resolve the outstanding obligations. “We took the decisive action on Max Air today because the airline refused to negotiate with us,” Adigun said, according to Premium Times. “While the other debtor airlines are negotiating with us, Max Air has blatantly refused to negotiate with the handling companies.”
Max Air’s debt is owed to two major ground handling firms: Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc and Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc. Investigations by The Guardian Nigeria revealed that the two companies are owed approximately N1 billion in combined service charges. The suspension does not affect Max Air’s hajj operations, which are funded directly by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, insulating pilgrimage flights from the dispute.
The suspension came after months of escalating tensions between ground handlers and Nigeria’s domestic airlines over mounting unpaid service charges. In late April 2026, AGHAN issued its first warning, threatening enforcement action beginning April 28. The association then deferred the deadline in observance of Workers’ Day celebrations and to maintain industrial harmony. On May 4, AGHAN issued a final three-day ultimatum, setting a deadline of May 6, 2026, for airlines to reconcile accounts and present clear repayment plans. When Max Air failed to respond, enforcement proceeded.
According to Punch Newspapers, other indebted airlines began negotiating with ground handlers and were “already on the verge of signing Memoranda of Understanding with our members on debt repayment.” Adigun indicated that the Max Air action was intended as a signal to the broader industry. “This action should serve as a signal to other airlines that ground handling companies can no longer continue to provide services without payment,” he stated, per Punch.
The ground handlers’ decisive step reflects the financial strain the sector has endured. AGHAN warned repeatedly that prolonged non-payment by airlines is placing severe financial and operational pressure on ground handling companies, threatening the sustainability of critical support services within Nigeria’s aviation industry. The association emphasized that “ground handling companies can no longer continue to shoulder the burden of providing services without payment.”
Sources
- Premium Times Nigeria — AGHAN chairman statement on Max Air service suspension, debt amount, and other airlines’ negotiation status
- The Guardian Nigeria News — Max Air debt exposure to Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc and Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc, AGHAN chairman’s statement, hajj operations exemption
- Punch Newspapers — Timeline of AGHAN ultimatums, May 1 initial enforcement date deferral, May 4-6 final deadline, Max Air’s refusal to negotiate
