Governor Umo Bassey Eno, of Akwa Ibom State, makes his speech amidst citizens in the land of promise, at the reception where the newly acquired A220-300 entered service in Uyo- Tuesday, 20th August 2024
Ibom Air will today Wednesday, 21st August 2024, put its latest procured equipment, which is its second Airbus, A220-300, into service to enhance the capacity of the obviously overwhelmed indigenous operators in the Nigerian domestic terrain, thus bringing succour to air travellers.
Remember a couple of months ago, the aviation minister, Mr Festus Keyamo, while on a visit to the Airbus aircraft manufacturer’s factory in Toulouse, France, endorsed the aircraft model for all airline operators desirous of befitting equipment to operate profitably in the Nigerian airspace.
At the reception on Tuesday, 20th August 2024, in Uyo, to receive the aircraft into Ibom Air’s fleet, the Managing Director of Ibom Air, a revered veteran, Capt Ufom Udom, announced that the aircraft delivery was at the right time as the capacity challenge bedevilling domestic operators had been worrisome although all Ibom Air scheduled flights have all been fully booked.
Capt Udom however disclosed that as the aircraft joined to expand Ibom Air’s fleet, its domestic schedule will immediately be expanded to reduce the existing challenge of capacity confronting domestic operators and help to satisfactorily serve the domestic market.
Ufom Udom, a pilot with a nose for details who, severally had been found irreprehensible, added that two additional new routes will be added to the domestic schedule by the fourth quarter of the year 2024.
He further enunciated that the newly arrived damsel, the A220-300, was to be the icing on the cake, as it was not included in the original order of ten aircraft which when fully delivered by 2026, would make Ibom Air’s fleet soar to a dozen and half- 18 aircraft.
Capt Udom, an undisputable master in nearly all phases of airline operations and management for commercial success did obeisance to Nigerian financial institutions but gave double honour to Fidelity and Union banks.
He pledged that Ibom Air would not renege in all its commitments to the two banks who rose like rock of Gibraltar to the airline’s proposal and after careful fine-tunning, offered the quintessential support which made the acquisition of the latest bird in the airline’s fleet a reality.
Udom commended the business arm of the state government’s firm, Ibom Development Company Limited, IDCL, which oversees the construction of the world-class airport, the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul MRO, hangar, and numerous other developmental projects for the airline and airport staff such as the workers’ resident estate, state of the art medical centre, among others.
To the general public who the airline is expected to serve with dignity, honour and all humane courtesies, Capt Udom, the elder statesman, assured travellers the airline will even surpass their expectations by way of impeccable service delivery which will be progressively unveiled as its operations expand.
He promised the airline would improve on its presence and would better serve the West coast of Africa as he called on traders and merchants in Libreville, Doulah, etc., to expect impeccable schedule integrity from the most reliable airline, from the giant of Africa- Nigeria.
Pa Udom commended all the past and present governors who exercised faith in the airline project right from its conception stage, to its registration as an arm of the government’s business until its fruition and meteoric growth as being currently witnessed.
Governor Umo Bassey Eno commended the entire management, and staff of Ibom Air for safe flight operations of the airline. He committed the airline’s growth into the hands of the almighty God. He prayed for favourable weather at all times and prayed for the mental and physical wellbeing of the flight crew but special divine grace he requested on the cockpit crew.
He announced that the Maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul, MRO, hangar being built is 90 per cent complete and will soon be commissioned. The governor also revealed the international airport is also about 90 per cent completed, and will be commissioned sooner than later.
Governor Eno said all these glowing attainments in the annals of his administration are all causes of celebration and they would be celebrated in appreciating the commitment of the entire workforce and to give glory to the all mighty God at whose instance projects come into glorious conclusion.
The Governor was particularly thankful to the teeming audience who defied the morning showers to attend the terse event to commemorate the arrival of the new bird and appreciate those who are genuine patriots, committed to making Akwa Ibom iconic by accomplishing a feat the federal government could not achieve despite humans, materials, and humongous financial resources at her disposal.
From all of us at NTH, we wish Ibom Air successful operations by continuing to soar until it places Nigeria as number one in reliable air transport in Africa through Ibom Air’s efficient, and consumer-centric flight operations to the continent.
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