Ground handling companies in Nigeria have resumed services to Max Air after the airline entered fresh negotiations and made a partial payment toward its outstanding debts, leading to the reversal of a suspension imposed just 24 hours earlier.
The Aviation Ground Handlers Association of Nigeria announced the decision in a joint statement issued in Lagos on Friday and signed by its Chairman, Olaniyi Adigun, and Vice Chairman, Bashir Ahmed.
The restoration of services follows a brief suspension that was triggered by unpaid debts and allegations that the airline had failed to participate in reconciliation discussions with the ground handling firms.
AGHAN said the suspension was lifted after Max Air resumed negotiations and made a partial payment toward its outstanding debt obligations.
“We have to lift the handling suspension on Max Air after it commenced negotiations with our members,” AGHAN Chairman, Mr Olaniyi Adigun said.
He added that the airline had made a substantial payment toward its outstanding obligations to ground handling companies.
He stressed that the association remains committed to ensuring airlines honour their financial commitments despite ongoing industry pressures.
Adigun also noted that ground handling firms continue to grapple with rising operational costs and foreign exchange challenges.
Adigun further stated that prompt payment of service charges is vital to the sustainability of ground handling operations, cautioning that persistent debt could compromise efficiency and disrupt service delivery at airports.
AGHAN had suspended ground handling services to Max Air on Thursday over unpaid debts and what it described as the airline’s failure to engage in reconciliation efforts. The action followed repeated attempts to recover outstanding obligations from the carrier.
The association said some airlines had already entered repayment discussions, but Max Air had not done so at the time of the suspension.
AGHAN also issued several ultimatums to defaulting airlines regarding unpaid service charges.
