The umbrella body of ground handling companies in the country, the Aviation Ground Handlers Association of Nigeria (AGHAN), has suspended services to Max Air over debt.

The action, which took effect yesterday, effectively grounded the airline’s domestic operations nationwide, marking the first major enforcement move by the association against defaulting airlines.

Chairman of AGHAN, Mr Olaniyi Adigun, said the decision became necessary following Max Air’s refusal to engage with the handling companies on the reconciliation and settlement of outstanding indebtedness.

According to Adigun, while several other airlines that owe the ground handling firms were currently in talks and reconciling their accounts, Max Air has failed to respond positively to repeated efforts at resolving the matter.

He explained that the association could no longer sustain the financial burden imposed by the airline’s prolonged non-payment for services rendered.

“We took decisive action on Max Air today (yesterday) because the airline refused to negotiate with us. While the other debtor-airlines are negotiating with us, Max Air has blatantly refused to negotiate with the handling companies,” he explained.

“Some of the other debtor-airlines are already on the verge of signing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) 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.”

However, Adigun clarified that the airline’s ongoing hajj operations would not be affected by the sanctions, noting that the handling charges for the pilgrimage flights are paid directly by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

Investigations by our correspondent revealed that Max Air’s debt exposure to the two major ground handling companies – Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO) and Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) – is estimated at N1 billion.

The latest development follows months of disagreements between the handling companies and several airlines over the accumulation of unpaid service charges. AGHAN had earlier issued a series of deadlines, warning that failure to settle outstanding obligations could lead to the withdrawal of services.

The association had initially planned to commence enforcement actions on May 1, 2026, but suspended the move in consideration of Workers’ Day celebrations and the need to maintain industrial harmony. Subsequently, the association issued a fresh three-day ultimatum to the affected airlines, demanding immediate reconciliation and payment plans.

Efforts to obtain Max Air’s reaction to the development were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.