Nigeria’s foremost airline, Ibom Air will clock five years of operations on June 7, 2024.
Established on June 7, 2019 by its founder, former governor Udom Emmanuel for the Akwa Ibom State government, Ibom Air has become one of the strongest local airline brands and increasingly becoming known internationally.
Reacting to the feat, the immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel 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 Airbus A220 300 series of Airbus and of course, you know it’s 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.”
He also 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. “
