Immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel Udom has said for local airlines to succeed and compete favourably with foreign counterparts, the government must provide certain concessions and preferences.
Udom stated this at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Thursday while reacting to Ibom Air’s five years operations.
According to him, “I keep saying this. Forget what the western world is trying to tell us. There is no country on planet earth that does not have a kind of subsidy for the citizens. I’m not calling for subsidy for airline business, but they should be given preference on certain things because we operate from this market. So whether you like it or not, the economy of any country cannot move or cannot grow if people cannot move from one point to another.
” I think there are some concessions that should be given to the local airlines and the aviation industry so that people can move from one point to another. I wouldn’t say more than that. ”
While speaking of operations of the Ibom Air in the last five years, Udom said, “While I was in the flight now, I was putting on smile because of the work the airline has done so far.
” The aircraft that brought us now from Lagos is the only an Airbus A220 300 series of Airbus and of course, you know its efficient and you know, that’s the real modern technology in terms of aviation, and aircraft manufacturing. We have created something and that’s the whole concept of creativity and ideas. Coming up with some concept or ideas or creativity that people can be proud of like Ibom Air is something that I must give glory to God.”
It would be noted that on June 7, 2024, Ibom Air, the airline owned by the Akwa Ibom State Government will be five years in operations. In this short space of time, the airline has been able to establish itself as a formidable airline brand in Nigeria.
Nearly five years down the line, Ibom Air has become one of the strongest local airline brands and increasingly becoming known internationally. It has become the 2nd largest domestic airline (after Air Peace) and the winner of the Best Airline in Nigeria award from the African Traveler Magazine last, for the 3rd consecutive time (2021, 2022 and 2023).
