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“When an aircraft sits idle as a backup, you are still paying for insurance, lease, and other overheads,” he said. Currently, Ibom Air operates nine aircraft and aims to reach ten. The tenth aircraft, he revealed, will serve as the buffer to prevent disruption during maintenance or emergencies.

BY ANTHONY OMOH

Ibom Air has revealed concrete plans to expand its operations across Africa using its upcoming international terminal in Uyo as a regional hub. Acting Managing Director, Mr. George Uriesi, made this known during the airline’s weekend engagement with trade partners, outlining how the Uyo hub terminal expansion will unlock access to underserved regional markets.

 “Very soon, we will start operating our new terminal,” said Uriesi. “It is the only true hub terminal in Nigeria—and by far the best.”

The terminal, he noted, supports seamless flight transfers across all directions—domestic to international, international to domestic, and international to international. Uriesi stressed that this multi-directional transfer capacity makes it the most advanced terminal in the country.

 Key African routes on radar

Once the terminal becomes operational, Ibom Air intends to launch flights to nearby underserved destinations. These include São Tomé, Douala, Libreville, and Malabo.

“After about three months of using the terminal, we will begin flying to Malabo, Douala, Libreville, and São Tomé,” Uriesi stated.

He said the airline is positioning itself to provide reliable services on these challenging routes. The expansion plan is also designed to stimulate outbound travel by offering improved international connectivity directly from Uyo.

 “We are building something for both our business and for our partners,” he added. “This terminal is purpose-built for our long-term strategy.”

 Improving passenger experience and airport services

According to Uriesi, Ibom Air is working to ensure an experience unlike the average Nigerian airport. The airline aims to work closely with airport agencies such as immigration and customs to ensure smooth passenger processing.

 “We want customs officers to say, ‘Welcome to Nigeria.’ Even if we have to pay for that warmth—we will do it,” he said.

The carrier plans to align exceptional infrastructure with professional service, avoiding the usual disconnect that plagues Nigerian aviation terminals.

Addressing delays and scheduling issues

Despite Ibom Air’s strong on-time record, Uriesi admitted that flight delays and cancellations occasionally occur due to factors beyond the airline’s control. These include bad weather, technical issues, or delayed aircraft turnaround.

 “Any cancellation or reschedule is a painful event. Once a flight is affected, the entire day’s schedule suffers,” he explained.

He shared an example involving bad weather in New York, where delays cascaded into knock-on effects on subsequent flights. Similar patterns, he said, often play out in Nigeria.

 “Even if this happens only 3% of the time, for the affected passenger, it feels like 100%.”

Challenges of aircraft redundancy

Uriesi explained that one major challenge smaller airlines face is aircraft redundancy. While redundancy is vital for operations, it is also expensive to maintain.

“When an aircraft sits idle as a backup, you are still paying for insurance, lease, and other overheads,” he said.

Currently, Ibom Air operates nine aircraft and aims to reach ten. The tenth aircraft, he revealed, will serve as the buffer to prevent disruption during maintenance or emergencies.

 “Our redundancy is one aircraft away. Once we hit ten, we’ll have one sitting as a backup, ready when needed.”

Enhancing customer service infrastructure

To boost customer satisfaction, the airline is investing in a 24-hour contact center with improved internet connectivity. Initially hampered by poor infrastructure at the airport, the call center is now relocated to a high-rise facility in Uyo town.

“We had to pay heavily to secure office space with reliable internet. But it was necessary for better customer support,” Uriesi stated.

In addition, Ibom Air is preparing to launch its Global Distribution System (GDS) by October. This move is expected to boost global visibility and streamline ticket sales, especially for the upcoming high season.

“Our focus remains on establishing reliability. That is how we will be reachable and trusted by international partners.”

Escaping the small-airline trap

Uriesi was frank about the challenges of operating as a smaller carrier in Nigeria. He said size directly affects flexibility, especially when disruptions occur.

 “Being a small airline in Nigeria is dangerous. That’s why rescheduling and cancellations are common across the industry,” he said.

Despite being the country’s second-largest airline by fleet, Uriesi said Ibom Air is still growing out of this limitation. He urged trade partners to remain confident in the airline’s direction and plans for the future.

“The Uyo hub terminal expansion is not just about us. It’s a win for you too. We are building reliability—for everyone.”