Ibom Air has taken delivery of its third Airbus A220-300 aircraft, expanding its fleet to 10 aircraft as the airline intensifies its fleet modernisation and network expansion programme.
The aircraft, registered 5N-CDC, was formally handed over to the airline at the Airbus A220 final assembly facility in Mirabel, Canada, following the signing of the Transfer of Title documents by George Uriesi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Ibom Air.
According to a statement Signed, by Aniekan Essienette Group Manager, Marketing and Communication, Ibom Airlines Limited, The latest delivery comprises seven Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Regional Jets (CRJ900s) and three Airbus A220-300s, further reducing the average age of the airline’s fleet.
Speaking after the handover ceremony, Uriesi said the airline was delighted to receive the third A220-300, attributing the expansion to the support of the Akwa Ibom State Government, the airline’s shareholder.
He expressed appreciation to Umo Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, for his continued support and confidence in the airline’s growth.
According to Uriesi, the addition of the new aircraft would improve the airline’s operational efficiency while supporting safer, more passenger-friendly and environmentally responsible operations.
He said the A220 would also provide Ibom Air with opportunities to expand its network and strengthen its position in Nigeria and the wider West African aviation market.
Guillaume Chevasson, Head of the Airbus A220 Programme and Chief Executive Officer of Airbus Canada, congratulated Ibom Air on the delivery and reaffirmed Airbus’ commitment to supporting the airline’s growth.
Chevasson said the A220 was well suited to Ibom Air’s fleet modernisation strategy because of its operational flexibility, fuel efficiency, passenger comfort and performance across domestic and regional routes.
“We are most delighted to receive the third A220-300 into our growing, modern fleet. We thank our Shareholder, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, without whose strong support this would not have been possible. We appreciate his continued confidence in Ibom Air and his commitment to the airline’s growth.
The addition of this new A220 will have a significant positive impact on the business, making Ibom Air’s operations safer, more passenger-friendly, more environmentally responsible, and far more efficient. We look forward to harnessing the myriad opportunities the A220 brings as we continue to expand our network and strengthen our position as a leading airline in Nigeria and West Africa,” he said
Ibom Air placed a firm order for 10 Airbus A220-300 aircraft at the Dubai Airshow in 2021. The latest delivery is the second A220-300 delivered under that firm order, following the first factory-new A220 delivered in 2023.
The airline also acquired an additional A220-300 outright in 2024.
The statement added that with the latest delivery, Ibom Air now has one of the youngest and most modern airline fleets in Nigeria, strengthening its capacity to serve existing routes and support future network expansion.
The airline, wholly owned by the Akwa Ibom State Government, currently serves seven domestic destinations and Accra, Ghana, with a focus on schedule reliability, on-time departures and passenger service.
The new aircraft is expected to further enhance Ibom Air’s capacity as it seeks to consolidate its position in Nigeria’s increasingly competitive domestic and regional aviation market.
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