Governor woos FG as Ibom Air deploys A220-300 plane

Ibom Air has deployed its Airbus A220-300 plane into commercial service with flights from Uyo to Lagos.

The A220 with registration 5N-CDA which arrived at the airline’s base in Uyo on December 8, 2023, from Mirabel, Canada is the first of 10 ordered in November 2021.

Ibom Air’s aircraft debuted on Flight Q1515 from Victor Attah International Airport (QUO) Uyo to Lagos Murtala Muhammed Airport (LOS).

The aircraft landed at 3.45pm with Governor Umo Eno and his entourage among the 133 passengers from Uyo.

Captains Arif Jana and Adebayo Odunsi flew the aircraft from Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

The governor expressed continued support for the state’s tripod aviation ecosystem, calling on the federal government to partner with it.

He highlighted the projects under the tripod to include Ibom Air, Smart Terminal and MRO, aimed at changing the face of aviation in Nigeria.

The governor attributed the projects’ successes to intentional vision, stating particularly that though the federal government wants to establish an MRO, it will take years hence the call to partner with an already established one.

The Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the airline, George Uriesi, explained that the aircraft operation took time because of the rigorous certification process.