Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State on Wednesday has reiterated the commitment and determination of his administration to making the state-owned Airline, Ibom Air, and the entire aviation sector a world-class,he made the statement at the unveiling of the new Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft with registration number 5N-BXO, and the fifth aircraft to Ibom Air fleet which arrived the country on August 1, 2020.
“We welcome the latest COVID-19 compliant Aircraft in our fleet with registration number 5N-BXO. On behalf of the Government and people of Akwa Ibom State, including those in the Diaspora, we appreciate God and everyone who has contributed to making this possible and we look forward to many more’ Gov Emmanuel said.
Speaking further he said “When I came into office as a Governor, I inherited just one private Aircraft, but I thank God that I will not leave the office with anything less than eight to nine commercial Aircraft so that our people can see progress.
” And I am sure the person that will come after me will not leave the office with less than twenty-five aircraft. I want to most sincerely register my appreciation to the management team of Ibom Air. They’ve actually made us proud.I really want to thank them for the commitment and the professionalism they have displayed to make Ibom Air an airline to beat. It is a State-owned airline to beat anytime, anywhere” He thanked God that the state has continued to expand in its aviation business despite the economic downturn occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the global economy.
He also disclosed that this is a call for the completion of the Maintenance Repairs and Overhaul facility at the Victor Attah International Airport and added that the new International terminal building currently under construction, is designed to meet the highest intelligence, smart standard, as well as match internationally, ranked terminals when completed.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of Ibom Airport Development Company Limited, and former Military Administrator of Akwa Ibom State, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (rtd) commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for his passion towards developing the aviation sector in the state.
Nkanga particularly applauded the governor for keeping to his promise of increasing the Ibom Air fleet, noting that the effort has contributed immensely to the expansion of the Airline’s flight routes.
“Ibom Airline has already operated the Calabar route and will operate the Enugu route from September 14, 2020, as Akanu Ibiam International Airport has resumed flight operations.
“And we have other things coming up at this airport; the MRO, we still have the Cargo coming up, and we have the Ibom International Terminal under construction. How else can one define progress, how else would you define governance more than what we are witnessing?” Nkanga asserted.
The Governor disclosed that Ibom Air has concluded plans to commence flight operation at Enugu International Airport in September