With the arrival of the new aircraft, the airline is expected to expand its operations beyond Ghana to other West and Central African countries.


The Akwa Ibom State Government owned airline – Ibom Air, has received the first of 10 new Airbus A220-300 aircraft it ordered from the European manufacturer – Airbus.

The first delivery came two years after the airline sealed a deal with Airbus at the Dubai Airshow in November 2021.

In a statement announcing the delivery on Friday, the company’s Group Manager, Marketing and Communication, Aniekan Essienette, said the handover was done at Airbus’ Mirabel facility in Canada.

The ceremony was attended by top officials of the airline, including its CEO, Mfon Udom. The immediate-past governor of the state, Udom Emmanuel, whose tenure the company was established, was also in attendance.


Speaking at the handover ceremony, the airline’s CEO, Mr Udom said, “The introduction of the Airbus A220-300 to our fleet is a game-changing leap forward for Ibom Air. The decision to invest in a fleet of highly efficient brand-new aircraft to power our growth plans underscores our determination to offer no less than world-class airline services to our valued customers.”

Ibom Air, which currently has seven aircraft (five Bombardier CR900 and two Airbus A220-300) in its fleet, flies 11 routes spanning six cities in the country including, the nation’s capital, Abuja, and Nigeria’s commercial city, Lagos, Enugu and Port Harcourt.

The airline, which started commercial operations in 2019, has become one of the most top rated in Nigeria’s airspace, garnering several awards, including best airline of the year for three consecutive years – 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Earlier in the year, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) awarded the airline a safety certification.

As part of its expansion drive, the airline, in October, launched its first African sub-regional flight, touching down in the West African country, Ghana.

READ ALSO: IATA laments airlines’ failure to repatriate funds from Nigeria, others
With the arrival of the new aircraft, the airline is expected to expand its operations to other West and Central African countries.

The Akwa Ibom State Government, as part of the efforts for the smooth take-off of the Ibom Air’s international flight operations, on 28 May, commissioned an International Terminal, Maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul (MRO) facility, a new taxiway and an apron extension to cater for the anticipated influx of people at the airline hub – Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo.

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/646229-ibom-air-receives-first-brand-new-airbus-aircraft.html

I want to believe that Akwa Ibom State wants to teach the criminals we have in power at the federal level how to run a successful airline business.

To achieve this, you must audit your profit and loss account every six months. If you don't break even in 5 years, sell off the business to private investors. Please don't be like Nigeria Airways and Nigeria Air.

SoNature:
I want to believe that Akwa Ibom State wnats to teach the criminals we have in power at the federal level how to run a successful airline business.

To achieve this, you must audit your profit and loss account every six months. If you don't break even in 5 years, sell off the business to private investors. Please don't be like Nigeria Airways and Nigeria Air.

What is the state using the profits for?


Are they impacting on the common lives of her people? Because you will find every Akwaibom person doing househelp in almost every state in Nigeria.

Ok

Every state should figure out a way to make money and stop being leeches that are just feeding off federal allocation.

This is highly commendable

.

Nice one

Seun, new members are finding it difficult to create account on your site, zenith bank PR tried registering on nairaland so as to place an ad, but she cant, she did not get the registration link sent to her gmail.

wow kul

It's a good one

100k and upwards for flight tickets now.

Vagabonds in power.

Akwa Ibom has a vision.
This is excellent

Every Akwaibom doing househelp? What a narrow minded stereotype. The former governor was an ED at Zenith bank and not a househelp. Nathaniel Bassey is a world renowned gospel artist. Someone from Akwaibom is your current senate president etc and they are not househelps

JASONjnr:




What is the state using the profits for?


Are they impacting on the common lives of her people? Because you will find every Akwaibom person doing househelp in almost every state in Nigeria.

This is good news but I hope they can keep up with the lease payments

Good news at last

Meanwhile, one man that borrowed and repainted an airplane owned by Ethiopian air as though is owned by Air Nigeria is still walking free

This guys are keeping up and the continuation by the new government is commendable.

Nice one

Akwa ibom...
I think the state will do better
If it were to be a country on its own

Cool

Still shocking that Nigeria is unable to setup a carrier successfully

Akwa ibom get airline,nigeria no get.

What a country couldn't achieve in decades A state is achieving it

Who do us 😢😢😭

JASONjnr:




What is the state using the profits for?


Are they impacting on the common lives of her people? Because you will find every Akwaibom person doing househelp in almost every state in Nigeria.

Erm, airline profits are supposed to be used for the airline mostly.

sholatech:
Every Akwaibom doing househelp? What a narrow minded stereotype. The former governor was an ED at Zenith bank and not a househelp. Nathaniel Bassey is a world renowned gospel artist. Someone from Akwaibom is your current senate president etc and they are not househelps

The useless senate president is a househelp to Tinubu, rubber stamping on every loan bills passing on his table.


Now, to clear your doubts. The proportion of rich folks from your state and the poor folks from your state will result to my earlier statement.


Before you can mention one rich and well to do Akwa Ibom person, you must have mentioned a thousand of them mopping and washing plates inside people's kitchen.

Their AC mad gan but I will never forget the day they charged me over half of my initial ticket price because I missed my flight due to lackadaisical attitude of the officials at the airport.

akingangan:
Every state should figure out a way to make money and stop being leeches that are just feeding off federal allocation.

This is highly commendable

the term "leech" is inappropriate in this context cus the resources that produces the money in question comes from the states.
Reasons the FG will never support resource control as agitated by some states.
Congrat to AKS,

JASONjnr:




What is the state using the profits for?


Are they impacting on the common lives of her people? Because you will find every Akwaibom person doing househelp in almost every state in Nigeria.

A lot of them are not educated.

Them women fine but can’t even speak fluent English

"Brand New"
That must have cost alot.

You're not reading this by accident

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nairalanda1:


Erm, airline profits are supposed to be used for the airline mostly.

The profit from airline is a massive one and I believe, the governors are the ones enjoying the profits alone with the commissioner for aviation for the state.

A

JASONjnr:


The useless senate president is a househelp to Tinubu, rubber stamping on every loan bills passing on his table.


Now, to clear your doubts. The proportion of rich folks from your state and the poor folks from your state will result to my earlier statement.


Before you can mention one rich and we'll to do Akwa Ibom person, you must have mentioned a thousand of them mobbing and washing plates inside people's kitchen.

And same with every other state in Nigeria, Anambra , Lagos inclusive

JASONjnr:


The useless senate president is a househelp to Tinubu, rubber stamping on every loan bills passing on his table.


Now, to clear your doubts. The proportion of rich folks from your state and the poor folks from your state will result to my earlier statement.


Before you can mention one rich and we'll to do Akwa Ibom person, you must have mentioned a thousand of them mobbing and washing plates inside people's kitchen.

Must y'all tribalize everything in this nation??

Good! Every citizen and PRs of Akwaibom must be very proud of Ibom air. I pray the great investment will survive the Nigerian culture too. God bless Akwaibom State, God bless Nigeria.

JASONjnr:


The profit from airline is a massive one and I believe, the governors are the ones enjoying the profits alone with the commissioner for aviation for the state.

Airlines are expensive to run. And the profit has to go to

1.Expanding services
2.Paying pilots and other support staff well
3.Jet fuel...now expensive.
4.Maintenance
5.Paying the requeisite taxes, fines and so forth
6.Paying for stuff like food, etc.
7.Paying a host of other costs.

Nigeria airways, when it existed, was a company. Its profits went mostly to the company. Maybe a bit went to government, but most went to the company.

Yeah, maybe Akwa Ibom has no business running an airline....but they are...and the profits go to the airline

And History teaches us that states that use their companies as a free source of government money usually end up bankrupting the company.