The Group Manager, Marketing and Communications, Ibom Air, Mrs Aniekan Essienette, has said that the airline has airlifted over 300,000 passengers since it began operations 18 months ago.
Speaking during an interaction with journalists in Uyo on Tuesday, Essienette said that the airline would have airlifted more passengers but for the four months lockdown in which flight operations were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic that ravaged the world, the airline could not achieve the feet.
According to her, the airline has also contributed more than N1 billion directly and indirectly to the economy of Akwa Ibom State through vendors and suppliers within the period.
Essienette stated that the airline would continue to play its role for the economic development and growth of the state.
“We want to be to Akwa Ibom State, what Emirates Airlines is to Dubai and what Ethiopian Airlines is to Ethiopia. I believe we can achieve this with your continued support and those of the good people of Akwa Ibom State.
“In line with this aspiration, just in 2019 alone, our first year of operation, Ibom Air’s direct and indirect impact on Akwa Ibom’s livelihood and businesses amounted to over a billion naira.
“This is in addition to the employment of indigenes of Akwa Ibom State, not just in low and entry-level to senior positions, but in the very highly skilled aviation professions of Piloting, Cabin Crew and Aircraft Maintenance Engineering.
“As a matter of fact, 17 young indigenous trainee maintenance engineers have qualified or are on the verge of being qualified as Bombardier CRJ 900 Aircraft Engineers.
“Ibom Air’s strategy and value the proposition is three-pronged, schedule reliability, on-time departures, and excellent service. We can proudly say today that we lived up to this approach and to date, we are delivering 99 per cent on-time performance, ” Essienette said
According to her, the company has within a short time become a model brand in the aviation industry and expected to build on recent successes to improve and expand.
“Since June 7, 2019, when Ibom Air commenced operations as a bold new idea with three Aircraft, now you can say that we are the “new kid on the block” and the whole nation has stood up and taken notice of what we have brought to the table.
“Eighteen months down the line, Ibom Air currently boasts a fleet of five Bombardier CRJ 900 aircraft the youngest airline fleet in the country and currently covers five destinations: Uyo, Lagos, Abuja, Calabar and Enugu, with an unmatched record of schedule reliability and on-time departure performance.
“In 2021, we shall be expanding to other routes which we would announce in due course,” she said.
She said that the Airline, owned by Akwa Ibom government currently has 300 staff, including indigenes in its employ and plan to employ more as they expand.
Also speaking, Director of Airline Services, Ms Amaka Echetabu, said that perceived delays in the takeoff of flights were due to factors outside the control of management, stressing that some delays were necessary as the company would not compromise on safety standards.
Echetabu said the Airline’s trusted the maintenance team has continued to conduct in-house maintenance as there has been no need for outside maintenance and would continue to train indigenes engineers to take over the maintenance of the aircraft.
She said that for now, the company would continue to concentrate on improving its domestic dominance while plans to go international would be strategic, and with larger aircraft when plans are finalised.
She said that the airline would constantly looking for innovative ways to serve and retain their customers and repositioned for growth and visibility, nationally and regionally.
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