- Airline promises to maintain superior service, reliability
FORMER Governor of Cross River State,Donald Duke has described Ibom Air’s flight into Calabar, the cross a Rivers state capital as a catalyst that would boost commercial activities in for both states.
Ibom Air touched down at 10:10am at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport Calabar to a water canon salute from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN) Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Service ( ARFFS).
Duke who was on the inaugural flight from Lagos to Calabar described the experience as top notch while congratulating the state government and the management of the airline for maintaining such high standards.
He said, “What’s even more exciting is that it’s from a sister state and I’m always excited when I hear them speak the local dialect on the aircraft. Ibom is noted for living up to industry standards and being on time. They do things the right way. And even though it’s very new in the industry, it has very very high standards and we want to encourage them to maintain those standards.”
“I also want to encourage our people to patronize them and be sure that with them coming in, our state would be better of, commercial life would be better off and I also believe that it would further help the relationship.
Highlighting benefits of the foray into Cross River Duke said, “For benefits, commuting and all that, you know unfortunately until lately, there’s only been one flight in and out of Calabar and do this adds to it, this adds more commerce to it. Where people can go in and come out more frequently and so they are more visitors and the hospitality industry will benefit and overall it will boost it ad a destination, you are not a destination if I can’t get to you. If you can come in here and live at will them you are a destination.”
Ibom Air’s Director Airline services, Amaka Echetabu, who spoke during the inaugural flight also said the foray into Calabar will improve the economics of doing business in the state.
She described the service as a big deal for the airline stating that the connection it is building will help boost both states.
“I think it will really improve the economics of doing business in cross river, you can come in do what you wanna do catch a flight with us again in the afternoon and head back to Lagos.
“It’s all about the market really, I se that Calabar is a sister to Uyo really and do we cant really do business without each other. We are family and we can’t be doing all this in Akwa Ibom and not export some of it to Calabar as well. So this is what we have done, this is what we are doing, then definitely need us here. And it’s not really about how many, it’s about how well.”
“This is a big event for us, this is us spreading out wings especially in these unprecedented times. It is really big for us, it is a leap of faith and a lot of confidence in what we are doing. And no matter how much the market shrinks of expands, people still need to get from point A to point B. We want to do this for them. Offer them on time departure, schedule reliability and superior service, we want for people to feel worth their wait in gold when they come to fly. We want to treat people very well. So this is what we are really all about at Ibom Air and give them the best they paid for.”
