Nigerian Flight Deck Travel and Business Reportage
IT would seem, Nigeria’s Ibom Air may have closed a deal with European aircraft manufacturer, Airbus to purchase a least 10 A220 jets after the airline has had stints with the leased aircraft to boost its domestic presence. READ: ‘Ibom Air’s anticipated A220s are game changers’
Reuters reports that delegates at the Dubai Airshow said on Sunday that the deal could extend up to 20 aircraft.
The Ibom Air order is probably borne of the airline’s operations with the A220 in the last six (6) months with the first aircraft leased from Egypt Air arriving June 5th, 2021. This may have ensured the aircraft type’s validation that it was ‘fit for purpose’ of the operations and future plans before it signed the deal. READ: Ibom Air puts acquired Airbus A220s into operation from Wednesday, June 30
The order is expected to be announced at the Dubai Air show.
Meanwhile at the weekend, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel last Saturday announced that the state government has concluded plans to add 10 additional A220-300 aircraft to the fleet of Ibom Air.
He made public the state government plans when he spoke at an event marking the 85th birthday of Obong Etim Abia, the Paramount Ruler of Eket in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.
Gov. Emmanuel said, “As I am leaving here, we are signing fresh agreements that will give us 10 brand new A220-300 Airbus’, so that even when I leave office, it will remain an enduring legacy,’’ he said.
