Akwa Ibom launches state-owned airline with two Bombardier planes and aims to go international

AKWA Ibom State has officially launched its state-owned airline Ibom Air involving the touching down of two aircraft at the Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo and the cutting of a tape by Governor Udom Emmanuel and senate president Senator Bukola Saraki.

In what is the first time a state government is launching an airline in Nigeria, the two Bombardier planes manufactured by the C-FWNL Avmax Group in Canada heralded the arrival of a fleet of aircraft. Governor Emmanuel said the airline would operate on profitable routes and would give preference to Akwa Ibom people.

He added that the aircrafts were only six years old and constituted the newest and modern fleet of the C-FWNL. According to the governor, Akwa Ibom was the only state currently running a state-owned airline in the country. He pointed out at that Ibom Air would be run as a business, adding that one other aircraft would arrive on Friday in addition to the already unveiled ones.

Governor Emmanuel said: "The launching of Ibom Air is a monumental achievement in Akwa Ibom state and indeed Africa, the journey to achieve Ibom Airline started in 2016 and today, it is a reality. If we are to search the minds of people, this day would have been frustrated but we give glory to God for making this day a reality.

“I want to charge my people that we can achieve a lot, if we come together. I want to reassure the former governor, Obong Victor Attah that very soon the maintenance, repair and operations will be a place that will maintain fleets of aircraft across the country."

Obong Attah was present to witness the ceremony, which is seen as a milestone in the history of the 31-year-old oil-rich state.  Air travel in Nigeria is plagued by several challenges, including frequent flight cancelation and poor customer satisfaction and airlines doing business in the country complain of poor returns on investments.

Ibom Air's launch comes about five months after the federal government suspended plan to float a new national carrier, Nigeria Air. Idongesit Nkanga, the chairman of Ibom Air, said the airline would go international before the end of Governor Emmanuel’s second term, adding that when in full operation, it would create employment for 300 people.

Gabriel Ukpeh, the chairman of the committee on foreign direct investments in the state, said: “For the first time in history of not just in Nigeria but in Africa, no state government has owned its own airline and this goes to show the mind-set and the experience of the governor in terms of business. Without air travel, investors cannot freely come into the state."

Senator Saraki added: "Today, we celebrate leadership, we celebrate the good things that can come out of Nigeria and we celebrate the audacity of hope. The governor has created an environment for people to have jobs and we are proud of you in the Peoples Democratic Party family that you are one of us."