Obaseki inaugurates two new Airbus A320-200 Ibom Air

Ini Billie Uyo

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has inaugurated two new Airbus A320-200 for Ibom Air, which would signal the commencement of regional flights.

Speaking on Tuesday in Uyo during the inauguration of the two Airbus A320-200 acquired by the Akwa Ibom State Government at the Victor Attah International Airport, Obaseki applauded Governor Udom Emmanuel for his significant strides in the aviation sector.

He mentioned Akwa Ibom as a flagship state in the country for its effort to invest and expand in a sector which according to him, Nigeria as the biggest country in Africa could not successfully run.

“Even Nigeria as the biggest country in Africa cannot run an Aviation sector successfully. Ibom Air is always fully booked. Let me thank you on behalf of Nigerians. Don’t be deterred by insult, focus on your goal,” he said.

While handing over the aircraft to Ibom Air, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel said the acquisition of the two airbuses was in response to the demands of the season.

Emmanuel said as a responsible administration, his government has committed huge resources to the development of the aviation sector in the state.

According to him, more funds than what has been received from the Federal Government have been committed to the development of the state, adding that a world-class Terminal Building and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the airport was on the verge of being commissioned.

“We did not come to give excuses; we came to do governance. Look at what we have done in the aviation sector, if it is not more than what we have collected, then you can challenge me anywhere.

“Our terminal building there is world-class in Africa, and our MRO is world-class. If you find one today in the entire Gulf of Guinea, tell me I will break down this one and construct another. This MRO can take 24/47 800 series. Would service eight of the CRJs that we are flying at the same time. This is the only MRO in this part of the world. People are coming, asking us to lease this MRO.

“I invest in areas we can have a return on our investment. Airbus is on us to come and use our MRO for all their regional flights. We are going to open up this place from January next year for commercial activities and we are going to earn in dollars, not naira,” he stated.

In his welcome remarks, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Ibom Airlines Limited, Captain Mfon Udom said the airline would commence regional flights in 2023.

Udom said the new additions to the fleet of Ibom Air would expand its carrying capacity and also boost employment opportunities by 40 per cent.

On his part, the Chief Operating Officer, Mr George Uries said the two aircraft, which arrived over the weekend, were procured from GetJet Airlines UAB (operating as GETJET), a European aircraft leasing company, on a one-year wet-lease agreement.

Uries announced that the deliveries of Ibom Air’s ten brand-new A220-300s are scheduled to begin in the second half of 2023.

“The wet-lease agreement is a stop-gap measure undertaken to meet current demands and accommodate growth, while awaiting the deliveries of our ten-brand new Airbus A220-300 aircraft, an order that was firmed up in November 2021 at the Dubai Airshow.

“With this new capacity coming on board, we are delighted to inform our passengers that we have increased our offerings, providing more frequencies for their convenience. The Uyo-Lagos and Uyo-Abuja route now have three frequencies every weekday, while our passengers between Lagos and Abuja will have seven frequencies to choose from both ways, every weekday.

“These new flight schedules will commence effective from the 23rd of November, in time to meet the demand of the holiday season,” he stated.