Ibom Air Receives Second Airbus Aircraft Ordered by Former Governor Emmanuel

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The new Airbus A220-300 plane for Ibom Air, a commercial airline owned by Akwa Ibom State, is the second of 10 planes ordered by former Governor Udom Emmanuel in 2021.

“The aircraft, registered 5N-CDC, was formally handed over to Ibom Air at the Airbus A220 final assembly facility in Mirabel, Canada, after the signing of the Transfer of Title documents by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Ibom Air, George Uriesi,” Aniekan Essienette, group manager for marketing and communication at Ibom Air, said in a statement on 26 August.

On Tuesday, the Akwa Ibom State Government will hold a ceremony at Victor Attah International Airport, where Ibom Air is based, to officially receive the new aircraft as part of the state’s 39th anniversary celebration.

There is a lot of excitement among airline management, workers, government officials, and residents of Akwa Ibom as they wait for the aircraft’s arrival.

Legacy of Former Governor Emmanuel

This new aircraft also highlights the legacy of former Governor Emmanuel’s time in office and shows that his successor is continuing the vision.

Emmanuel started Ibom Air in 2019, despite challenges and criticism. This made Akwa Ibom the first state in Nigeria to own a commercial airline. Now, Enugu State, led by Governor Peter Mbah, has followed suit with Enugu Air, which started its first flight on 7 July 2025.

Cross River and Bayelsa states are also looking into starting their own airlines.

The latest Airbus A220-300 is part of the 10 that Mr Emmanuel’s government ordered in 2021, before he left office in 2023. On 16 November 2021, Mr Emmanuel led airline management to Dubai for the signing at the Dubai Airshow.

Nigeria was the only African nation to sign a deal with Airbus at the 2021 Dubai Airshow through Ibom Air.

“Working with the Airbus team, Ibom Air took a new approach to choose the A220. The airline initially wet-leased two A220s for a year to test how well the aircraft fit their needs. Within six months, they confirmed the A220 was the right choice for their domestic and regional goals,” Ms Essienette said in a statement in November 2021.

“The order for 10 Airbus A220s is part of the airline’s growth plan, which aims to expand into new domestic routes and regional routes in West and Central Africa soon,” she added.

Growing Fleet

In a recent press statement, Ms Essienette said this new aircraft is the second A220-300 delivered under the order for 10 Airbus placed by the Emmanuel administration.

She mentioned that Ibom Air’s fleet now has seven Bombardier CRJ 900s and two Airbus A220-300s, serving seven domestic destinations and Accra, Ghana. The addition of this new Airbus will increase the Airbus aircraft in the fleet to three.

Besides starting Ibom Air and guiding its growth, the Emmanuel government also built the new international terminal at Uyo airport, which continues to impress air passengers.

“Akwa Ibom, una don win,” Nigerian music star Peter Psquare said happily in Pidgin English when he arrived at the airport in July, amazed by the modern and friendly facilities.

Governor Eno has often praised his predecessor, Mr Emmanuel, for the achievements in Akwa Ibom’s aviation sector.

“Very few people gave us a chance when we envisioned an airline that will change Nigeria’s aviation industry,” Mr Emmanuel wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on 25 November 2023. “Today, I feel fulfilled that our vision is becoming a reality with the delivery of the ten brand new Airbus A220-300 series aircraft we ordered in 2021 at the Dubai Airshow.”

He added, “With Ibom Air, Nigeria’s flag has been flown for the first time by Airbus in this new generation, and gradually, the airline is becoming a key player in Africa’s aviation.”