Akwa Ibom acquires three aircrafts, unveils Ibom Air

In a major step taken to boost development of aviation services, Akwa Ibom State has acquired three bombardier aircrafts for the commencement of Ibom Air, a commercial airline  undertaken  in partnership with private investors.

At the unveiling of the airline at the Victor Attah international airport in Uyo, the state capital and witnessed by dignitaries and captains of industries, including the president of the senate, Bukola Saraki, Governor Udom Emmanuel said the airline was in line with his vision of developing three critical sectors needed to fast track economic and industrial development of the state.

According to the governor, apart from the aviation sector, the government is also focusing on the development of a seaport as well as the construction of road infrastructure across the state.

In addition to the aviation sector, he said the state government was building  logistics centre in Ikot Abasi local government area adding that work on the Ibom deep seaport would soon commence.

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He described Ibom Air as a dream come true saying that more aircrafts were being expected before the end of  2023 adding that the airline would be run as a commercial venture as part of efforts to create wealth and boost economic activity.

The Governor disclosed that the aircrafts, C-FWNK were only six years old with a sitting capacity of about 90 passengers and constituted the newest and modern fleet of the industry.

“This is a great achievement, the first in the country. No other state in the country has ever unveiled a commercial airline except Akwa Ibom State,’’ he said.

He said with the commencement of the airline, the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the airport would soon be fixed saying that what was needed was to secure the patronage of investors in the facility.

Unveiling the airline, Bukola Saraki, Senate President lauded the vision of the state government  saying it is a celebration of development not just in the tourism sector but in leadership.

According to him, it shows that good things could come from Nigeria  which he said calls for celebration describing as the audacity of the people.

“When you have a man who understands how to attract investors, Nigeria will experience what Akwa Ibom is experiencing. Government cannot provide all the jobs. What the governor has done is to create the environment to have jobs, let us congratulate good leadership as we have seen here,’’ he said.

In his remarks, Mfon Udom, technical consultant to the airline said more than 400 jobs would be created initially as the airline has commenced operations.

He said more aircrafts were expected to job the fleet within a short time while the airline would be run professionally to enable it succeed pointing out that excellent managers have been carefully selected.

‘The policy of Ibom Air is that Ibom Air will fly when our customers want to fly and not when it wants to fly. All successful airlines in the world is government owned, even British Airways is supported by government.