Max Air launches domestic operations, promises timely departures
This, the association noted, would boost cargo and passenger movements as well as improve aviation contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The president of AFARN, Kingsley Nwokoma, disclosed that cargo and passenger movements have reduced in recent times to 50 per cent and 30 per cent respectively.
He told Daily Trust exclusively on the sidelines of the summit and awards ceremony organized by the association in Lagos with the theme, ‘Promoting the Nigerian Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Through Safety Consciousness in the Aviation Industry’.
Nwokoma spoke just Max Air yesterday commenced scheduled domestic flights with its inaugural flight from Kano to Abuja.
The airline’s entrance into the scheduled operations market brings the number of domestic airlines to 10.
Max Air’s inaugural flight from Kano to Abuja was operated on a Boeing 737-300 aircraft with 29 passengers on board, comprising 27 adults and two children. It landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at 8:50 a.m.
The airline, owned by business mogul Alhaji Mangal, had previously only operated charter flights, and pilgrimage flights to Hajj and Umrah, as the a business it has done for over a decade before it decided to add scheduled operations.
The vice chairman/CEO of the airline, Alhaji Bashir Mangal, who was onboard the maiden flight to Abuja told journalists on arrival that Max Air will change the flight experience of air travelers in Nigeria offering on time departures and quality in-flight services.
He noted that though the Kano, Abuja to Lagos route is the first to be introduced; a couple more destinations will follow now.
Some of the routes under consideration he said are Sokoto, Yola, Port Harcourt and Maiduguri.
He said the airline will still carry out Hajj, Umrah and charter operations.
According to him, Max Air is starting its domestic operation with three aircraft which include B737-300, 400 and 500 with an expansion plan to increase its fleet soon..
“We are determined to satisfy our passengers through better service in order to make them happy to see the difference” he assured.
“We want to do something different to satisfy their needs because we are aware of the challenges in the industry,” he said. not long from