By Akanimo Kufre (The New Diplomat’s A/Ibom|C/River Correspondent)
Ibom Air, an Akwa Ibom state owned airline has commenced its flight operation from Enugu airport to Lagos and Abuja routes.
The launching of the flights in Enugu, Nigeria’s coal city has increased Ibom Air’s destinations to five in the country.
With over one year of operation since its launching in June 2020, Ibom Air has boldly challenged records in Nigeria’s aviation industry, becoming one of the fastest growing airlines, with the newest aircrafts in the country.
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Confirming the development on its company site, Ibom Air in statement said: “We are pleased to inform you that Ibom Air will commence scheduled daily flights into the Coal City of Enugu from Lagos and Abuja, from Monday the 14th of September 2020. The launch of our Enugu flights from Lagos and Abuja is part of our organic expansion program. Our aim is to be able to offer our trademark travel experience of schedule reliability, on-time departures and excellent service to a wider pool of domestic travelers across the country. We will be deploying one of our latest, state-of-the-art, Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft on the route.”
“As you know, we already fly to 4 destinations in the country, connecting the federal capital Abuja, with financial hub Lagos, Akwa Ibom Capital Uyo and leisure destination, Calabar. With the addition of Enugu, Ibom Air will now serve 5 major cities in the country.”
“We want to take this opportunity to assure you that safety and customer satisfaction will remain at the Centre of Ibom Air’s operations and we will continue to work hard to meet and exceed your expectations, so that you continue to see us as your airline of first choice, by all parameters”.
Ibom Air continues to operate the lowest average fleet age amongst Nigeria’s airlines.
This fleet strategy is in line with the airline’s vision to become a world-class African regional airline.
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While speaking on the value additions that set the aircraft fleet apart, Ibom Air Chairman, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga said: “A key benefit of Ibom Air’s very modern fleet of Bombardier CRJ 900 aircraft is that they all come fitted with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters.
“HEPA filters are high-intensity filters that do not just filter dust, but effectively capture greater than 99% of the airborne microbes in the filtered air, including microscopic particles such as bacteria and viruses.
“These and more fact has impressed many air travelers, Akwa Ibomites and indeed the.”
Nkanga, a former Military Administrator in Akwa Ibom state and seasoned pilot continued: “I am proud of a good government that has helped us to do this business the way it should be done. We have free hands to operate the Airlines. It’s a promise kept. From the day the first one arrived we were given a dateline.
“Because of the pandemic we run slightly behind time, by the end of this administration it should be 10 aircraft fleet. If within a year we have five, that means the time we set for ourselves is realizable. So we should all be happy. It has made business easier for Akwa Ibom, I don’t know how else you can describe good government and progress.” Nkanga, who is also a former Presidential Air Fleet Commander said.
