By Benson Daniel
Ibom Air has expanded its fleet with the arrival of a brand new Airbus A220 300, strengthening the state owned airline’s capacity as it moves closer to recording five million cumulative passengers.
The aircraft, which arrived at Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo, is the third Airbus A220 300 delivered directly from the manufacturer’s assembly facility in Mirabel, Canada.
Its addition brings Ibom Air’s active fleet to 10 aircraft, comprising seven Bombardier CRJ 900s and three Airbus A220 300s.
The latest delivery comes as the airline records strong growth in passenger traffic. Ibom Air has so far carried 4,953,512 passengers through 65,152 scheduled flights, placing it within reach of the five million passenger milestone before the end of September 2026.
The expansion is also expected to help the airline restore its full domestic flight schedule while preparing for a wider regional network across Africa.
Ibom Air currently operates seven domestic routes and one regional service to Accra, Ghana. The airline plans to expand its network to 12 destinations and 15 routes by 2027, with proposed regional connections to Douala in Cameroon, Libreville in Gabon and Malabo in Equatorial Guinea.
The Airbus A220 300 is expected to play an important role in that expansion because of its larger capacity and fuel efficiency compared with some of the aircraft currently operating within the fleet.
Ibom Air Chairman, Mfon Udom, said the arrival of the aircraft would allow the airline to restore key domestic frequencies. The carrier plans to return to three daily flights on the Uyo Lagos and Uyo Abuja routes, while Lagos Abuja services are expected to increase to seven daily frequencies.
The airline’s growth is also having a wider economic impact in Akwa Ibom State. More than ₦60 billion has reportedly been injected into the state economy through Ibom Air’s commercial activities.
The carrier currently employs 753 full time workers, with 478 of them, representing 64 per cent of the workforce, being indigenes of the state. The airline also supports an estimated 2,000 indirect jobs across the state.
The expansion is being accompanied by efforts to develop local aviation expertise. Ibom Air currently has 30 pilots, including 14 indigenes of Akwa Ibom, while 16 of its 40 aircraft engineers are also from the state.
Additional pilots and aviation specialists are undergoing training as the airline prepares for further expansion.
The state government has linked the growth of Ibom Air to a broader aviation development strategy involving the airline, the international airport terminal and a planned Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility.
The objective is to develop an aviation ecosystem capable of supporting tourism, air cargo, foreign exchange generation and specialised technical employment.
The latest aircraft delivery also comes as the airline prepares to deepen its presence in the regional market. Its planned expansion into Cameroon, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea could position Uyo as an important connecting point for travellers within West and Central Africa.
The Airbus A220 300’s lower fuel consumption and reduced noise footprint are also expected to support the airline’s efforts to improve operational efficiency as it expands.
With passenger numbers already approaching five million, Ibom Air’s growth reflects the increasing demand for air travel and the potential for regional airlines to serve as catalysts for economic activity.
The immediate priority will be to maintain operational reliability while adding new routes and aircraft. If the expansion programme proceeds as planned, Ibom Air could significantly increase its passenger capacity and regional footprint over the next two years.
The latest delivery therefore represents more than an addition to the fleet. It marks another step in the airline’s effort to build a larger domestic network, expand into other African markets and strengthen Akwa Ibom’s position in the aviation industry.
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