Regarded as the first commercial airline to be owned and operated by a state government in Nigeria and Africa, Ibom Air, will begin full commercial operations on Friday, June 7, 2019.
Ekerete Udoh, the Chief Press Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, explained on Friday that the airline, having fulfilled all the regulatory conditions and requirements, was certified fit to commence commercial operations, leading to the maiden flight billed for today, June 7th, 2019.
He said: “It will maintain regular daily flights to both Lagos (MMA2) and Abuja respectively.
“The aircrafts in its fleet (Bombardier CRJ 900) have the distinction of being relatively new, all three, under 10 years old,” Mr Udoh said.
He said the commencement of the commercial operations by Ibom Air had been celebrated by Akwa Ibomites and other Nigerians as a testament to the visionary leadership of Mr Emmanuel.
“The governor who seems determined to break conventional wisdom concerning things long thought to be impossible to achieve,” he said.
He noted that the development was Gov. Emmanuel’s avowed determination to open the three gateways to industrialisation-land, sea and air appears to be on course.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that Ibom Airline which represents one of the signature projects of Mr Emmanuel’s First Term was launched on February 20 with three aircrafts by the former Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
