Governor Umo Eno admiring the new Airbus A220-300 .
By Anietie Akpan
Amid pomp and pageantry, the Akwa Ibom state government on Tuesday took taken delivery of her new Airbus A220-300.
This brings to seven the number of aircrafts the state owned Ibom Air has its fleet as itnow has five Bombardier CRJ 900 and two new Airbus A220-300.
Recall that on July 11, 2024, the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, had embarked on a pre-delivery inspection of the new Airbus A220-300 series aircraft at the Samco Aviation Maintenance Facility in Maastricht, Netherlands to ensure that everything was in order.
Speaking at the airport during a brief ceremony to receive a new A220- 300 series aircraft for the state-owned Ibom Air, the Governor said the growth and expansion of Ibom Air, is worth celebrating and enjoined all Akwa Ibomites to always remain grateful to God for the airline.
He harped on the need to always show gratitude saying, “we will always gather to celebrate growth, hard work, commitment and dedication because Ibom Air is the pride of Akwa Ibom State.
“As part of our efforts to expand the aviation ecosystem in Akwa Ibom, we will in the next few weeks, flag off the construction of the aviation village for an estate that will accommodate aviation workers because they need to reside near the airport as we are planning to go on 24 hours operation.
“The housing estate will come with schools, hospitals and other amenities so that all of our aviation staff will live close to the airport.
Reflecting on the success story of the airline since inception five years ago, Pastor Eno said, “Ibom Air remains a model of how best Government should run business and we will soon use the same model in the State owned Specialist Hospital.”
In line with his promise to ‘connect the dots’ and put the facilities to rapid use, the Governor assured that, “we are working towards ensuring the completion of the maintenance, repairs and overhaul hanger, MRO as well as the new international terminal building,” while also announcing plans to remodel the airport clinic in line with the new international standard of the airport.
He paid glowing tributes to the immediate past Governor and visioner of the airline business, Mr Udom Emmanuel for his resilience in establishing the airline, despite the barrage of criticisms that trailed the vision.
“He received a lot of attacks like we are receiving now in some of the strategic projects we are bringing to the State. But he (Udom Emmanuel) was focused and undaunted, today even the worst critic of this airline, I see them on this airline.”
He said that the airline currently owns 7 aircrafts and none is leased, describing the feat as a product of vision and focus which every leader should strive to imbibe.
“I salute all of our past leaders. His Excellency Arc. Obong Victor Attah that the airport is rightly named after and His Excellency Godswill Obot Akpabio, the Senate president of Nigeria for their pioneering roles in conceptualizing and constructing this airport and other facilities we find today in the state,” he said.
Promising to always remain supportive of the airline, he said his government will continue to place premium on tourism and other investment opportunities in State, saying the State is destination of choice.
Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Captain Mfon Udom and the Chairman of Ibom Air, Mr ImoAbasi Jacob, had said, the arrival of an additional A220 – 300 series Airbus to the fleet of Ibom Air was a timely needed boost that will improve the efficiency of flight schedule of the airline.
In a press statement by the General Manager, Marketing and Communication, Ibom Air, Aniekan Essienette, the Managing Director said, “beyond adding two new destinations to the routes of Ibom Air later this year, the aircraft will boost services on existing routes”.
Captain Udom who also thanked the financial partners, Fidelity Bank and Union Bank, who helped facilitate the acquisition of the new aircraft, said the new plane was different from the earlier ordered 10 new A220-300 series aircraft and when the nine remaining previously expected aircraft arrive, the Airline would boast of 11 A220 airplanes.
Also speaking, the Executive Director, Risk Management, Fidelity Bank, Charles Nwoke said, “schedule reliability and in-house inflight service”, makes Ibom Air able to compete favourably with international airlines.
On the basis of its reliability, he said Fidelity Bank is proud to support the growth and expansion of the airline and commend the Governor Eno for “his huge contribution, in sustaining the vision of Ibom Air”.
