The Ibom Airline which was recently inaugurated with three aircraft in its fleet will be professionally managed to ensure profitability and for it to play a key role in the economic development of Akwa Ibom State, Akan Okon, commissioner for special duties and aviation development, has said.
Expected to grow its fleet to 10 aircraft in 2023, Okon said apart from creating over 400 jobs directly and about 4000 or indirectly, the airport will be a ‘success story’ given the commitment of the state government towards transparency in the management of resources.
Speaking when he conducted journalists round the Ibom Airport to inspect the aircraft, the commissioner disclosed that flight operations were expected to commence as soon as the regulatory agencies give the approval.
“When you operate a new airline, it is expected that you will do what is called patrol flight on the routes and you are going to fly. Once that is done, they will sign off for the airline to commence operations,” he said.
He allayed the fears that as a state-owned enterprise, the airline would not be capable of making good returns on investment, saying with the commitment of the state government to the accountability and good governance, the airline would add to the profitable projects being undertaken by the state government.
According to him, the airline would draw its bulk of passengers from both the south-south and south east regions of the country, adding that business travelers from the south eastern part of the nation would prefer to make use of the airport due to the proximity to their business locations made possible by the good road network between Akwa Ibom State and the neighbour states.
“Arochukwu (in Abia State) to Uyo is only one-and-a-half hours, while the journey to Port Harcourt takes more than three hours, so people there and environs will prefer to pass through the Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo,’’ the commissioner said.
The commissioner, who lauded the state governor, Udom Gabriel Emmanuel for the state government’s industrial programme, said facilities at the airport were being improved upon with the completion of the second runway and a newly opened commercial block following the expansion of the temporary terminal.
“Governor Udom Emmanuel has tackled development in a way that he is conscious of the number of employment opportunities that will be generated by the Ibom Airline,’’ he said.
He disclosed that the recruitment process for hiring workers had been done through the proper channels as required, adding that youths with required skills and potentials in the industry had been given consideration.
ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo
