The Akwa Ibom State Government has signed an agreement with Airbus to deliver ten (10) A220 aircraft at the ongoing Dubai Air show, DWC event arena in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
The agreement, which was signed by the Executive Officer of Ibom Air, Mr Mfon Udom and Chief Commercial Officer of Airbus, Mr Christian Scherer, are part of the plans put in place by the state government to expand Ibom Air into new domestic routes as well as regional routes covering West and Central Africa.
Speaking at the event, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, said, “earlier in the year, we gathered to welcome the first Airbus into our fleet, and I must say that we are proud to be the first airline to order the all-new Airbus A220 in Nigeria.
“The A220 will allow us to increase the number of passengers into Akwa Ibom, thus bringing more first-time visitors and business travellers to the State. These efforts reflect our commitment to enabling local commerce and industry, in line with the State’s economic growth strategy.
“With this latest acquisition, Ibom Air is better positioned to contribute to driving long term economic growth for Akwa Ibom State. Ibom Air’s giant leap, as evidenced by this bold step, is a validation of the aviation development pillar of our completion agenda, which is on course. I have said and will reiterate that, till the very last day, I will keep working for and I’m the interest of Akwa Ibom people.”
On his part, the CEO of Ibom Air noted that the airline had enjoyed growth since its resumption of operations.
According to him, “It gives me great pleasure to be here at the announcement of Ibom Air’s order for 10 Airbus A220s. We are pleased with the steep growth we have achieved in the two (2) years and five (5) months since we commenced operations, a growth mainly driven by the massive embrace of our product and brand by the Nigerian domestic flying public.
“As we contemplated the next phase of our expansion strategy, we gave consideration and opted to procure two (2) A220s on a one-year wet lease in order to try out the aircraft to ensure it was fit for the purposes of our business. I am pleased to say here that the approach has been a huge success for us. We found out that not only can we fill up the aircraft, but it has also become a favourite in the Nigerian domestic market. Our passengers love it. And so, here we are today, ordering 10 A220s, having tested and validated it as the one-stop solution for our domestic and regional aspirations.”
The Chief Commercial Officer of Airbus, Mr Christian Scherer, said they were thrilled to receive Ibom Air as a new customer.
“The A220 is ideally suited to Nigeria’s aviation needs, providing operational flexibility, growing the business, and responding to demand increased passenger services. Through this investment, Ibom Air is underscoring its ambition for regional and in due course, international connectivity, efficiency and versatility.”
Present at the event includes Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Gabriel Emmanuel; the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Uko Udom (SAN); and the Chairman of Ibom Air, Mr Imoabasi Jacob.
Others include Chief Operating Officer of Ibom Air, Mr George Uriesi; the Group Manager Marketing and communication, Mrs Aniekan Essienette and the Group Manager Corporate Services, Mrs Imelda Aba.
With the purchase agreement in place, Ibom Air will commence deliveries of the aircraft in the first quarter of 2023
