Ibom Air Begins Commercial Operation To Lagos, Abuja and Uyo - Photos

The first commercial airline to be owned and operated by a state government in Nigeria and Africa, Ibom Air, will begin full commercial operations on June 7, an official said.

The Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Emmanuel, Mr. Ekerete Udoh, made this known in a statement on Thursday.

The airline, having fulfilled all the regulatory conditions and requirements, was certified fit to commence commercial operations, leading to the maiden flight billed for Friday, June 7th. “It will maintain regular daily flights to both Lagos (MMA2) and Abuja respectively, Udoh said.

Udoh said: “The aircraft in its fleet (Bombardier CRJ 900) has the distinction of being relatively new, all three, under 10 years old.”

He said the commencement of the commercial operations by Ibom Air had been celebrated by Akwa Ibomites and other Nigerians as a testament to the visionary leadership of Gov. Udom Emmanuel. “The governor who seems determined to break conventional wisdom concerning things long thought to be impossible to achieve,” he said.

He noted that the development was Gov. Emmanuel’s avowed determination to open the three gateways to industrialization-land, sea and air appears to be on course.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN recalled that Ibom Airline which represents one of the signature projects Gov. Emmanuel’s First Term. The Ibom Air was launched on Feb. 20th with three aircraft by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

Ibom Air Finally Berth At Akwa Ibom Airport, Starts Operation - Photos

All that starts well they say ends well. We can say for free that the first batch of the Ibom Air has berthed at the Akwa Ibom Airport. We got some exclusive images of the airplane and the interior, this is one of the 3 planes that are being expected by the state government.

The plane landed first at the Muritala Muhammed Airport in Lagos from there it flew to Akwa Ibom for the official commissioning by the state government.

According to reports, after several months of planning, Akwa Ibom State unveiled its airline known as Ibom Air.

In addition, the state has engaged about 400 indigenes as personnel for the government-owned carrier.

An indigene of the state in the aviation sector told newsmen at the weekend that the launch of the airline was a culmination of the aspiration of the state to play a significant role in the nation’s aviation industry.

 He noted that the state was the first and the only state that planned to build maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility, which is still on-going and trained so many of its youths in different fields of aviation. This, according to the source makes it easy to recruit those who benefitted from the training to work for the airline.

 Ibom Air, he said would kick off with three aircraft and hoped to increase fleet as it begins operation.

 The state government which confirmed the development said the airline would operate within Uyo-Lagos- Abuja routes.

He stated that it ventured into airline operations to add to the capacity of existing airlines.

The State Commissioner for Special Duties and Aviation Development, Mr. Akan Okon who revealed this in Uyo, said the recruitment process concluded, with an Akwa Ibom son as Chief Pilot maintained that the heavy traffic in Akwa Ibom airport made it imperative for the state government to join the few airlines operating there.

“Ibom Air has come to stay. I am happy to tell you that we have completed recruitment with a good number of Akwa Ibom children. The Chief Pilot is from Akwa Ibom. Three aircraft are secured and are ready for commencement of operation. It is completely owned and operated by Akwa Ibom State Government and it will provide 400 direct and indirect jobs,” he said

These are images from the arrival.