Ibom Air rolls new Airbus 220- 300 into operation

AFTER months of waiting, Ibom Air customers finally had a feel of the new Airbus A220- 300 aircraft on Monday, following its deployment into domestic operations.

The aircraft, the first of 10 brand- new aeroplanes ordered in 2021, came into the country in November last year.

Registered 5N- CDA, the aircraft debuted on Flight QI515 from Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo ( QUO) to Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos ( LOS).

Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the airline, George Uriesi, explained that the aircraft operations took time because of the rigorous certification process in- country.

Uriesi said: “You know it's a new aeroplane in Nigeria. It's new for us, new for the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) and International Civil Aviation

Organisation ( ICAO) was also auditing this period. The NCAA followed everything to the letter and we are happy for it also.

“It takes time to do that. Eventually, we are ready, thank God we have started today. It will operate between Lagos and Abuja from tomorrow ( Tuesday) and then the second one is on its way. We expect it to come in between May and June. We are looking forward to a positive immediate future.

“Two new aeroplanes with a fleet of five CRJS and we'd be back to where we were before the two A320 wet leases, and then we grow from there,” Uriesi said.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, who was among the 133 passengers onboard the maiden flight, expressed his continued support for the state's tripod aviation ecosystem, calling on the federal government to partner.