Summary
- Ibom Air’s first Airbus A220-300 will enter commercial service on April 29, nearly five months after it arrived in Uyo, Nigeria.
- The new aircraft, with 120 economy and 12 business class seats, will be deployed on a domestic flight from Uyo to Lagos.
- Ibom Air ended Airbus A320 wet lease operations in February 2024 in preparation for the A220s debut.
Nigeria’s only state government-owned carrier, Ibom Air, will inaugurate its brand-new Airbus A220-300 into commercial service on April 29 with a domestic flight from Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom state, to Lagos, the largest city in Nigeria. The aircraft will operate a total of three passenger services today.
Brand-new A220 enters commercial service
Ibom Air received a brand-new A220-300 from Airbus late last year. This was the first of ten A220s ordered in November 2021. The new aircraft, registration 5N-CDA, arrived at the airline’s base in Uyo on December 8, 2023, after a long ferry flight from the manufacturer’s facility in Mirabel, Canada.
Photo: Airbus
The A220 will debut on Flight QI515 from Uyo Victor Attah International Airport (QUO) to Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS). The flight is scheduled to depart Uyo at 14:00, arriving in Lagos at 15:15 local time. The new jetliner will also operate the return flight (QI516) at 16:00 and a third flight (QI517) on the same route at 18:00.
The single-aisle aircraft has 120 economy and 12 business class seats. All flights between Uyo and Lagos have been operated with the smaller CRJ900s over the last few months. The airline expects the new A220 to deliver more efficiency and an enhanced passenger experience on domestic and regional flights.
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The airline is the largest operator between the US and Africa with more than 30 weekly flights.
Preparing for A220 operations
Ibom Air will be the only Nigerian carrier operating an A220-300 with local registration 5N. However, the airline previously operated two A220s wet leased from Egyptair. It flew the type for up to a year to test its suitability, and within six months, the company realized that it was the right aircraft for its domestic and regional growth plans. It went and signed a firm order for ten A220s at the 2021 Dubai Airshow.
The first delivery was initially scheduled for Q12023, but this was delayed for a few months. While awaiting delivery of the new aircraft, Ibom Air had wet leased two Airbus A320-200s from GetJet Airlines in December 2022. This allowed the state-owned carrier to increase frequencies on various routes and offer passengers more travel options.
Photo: Eurospot
However, in February 2024, the airline announced that it would end all wet leased aircraft operations as it prepared to debut the new A220. As such, the two A320s, YL-EMU and 9H-GTS, operated their last flights for Ibom on February 5 before returning to Vilnius, Lithuania.
The transition did, however, lead to a reduced flight schedule. Speaking about the development, Ibom Air Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer George Uriesi said,
“We resorted to wet leasing aircraft to meet the growing demand for our product while we worked on our fleet growth program. Now with these aircraft being delivered, it is time for us to benefit from the significant operating efficiencies and enhanced service the A220-300 brings to the business.”
Ibom Air’s five-year growth
Ibom Air received its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) in May 2019 and commenced scheduled operations on June 7, 2019. The airline is wholly owned by the Akwa Ibom State Government through the state’s Investment entity – Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation (AKICORP). Akwa Ibom is the only Nigerian state that owns and operates a commercial airline, although Lagos is planning to establish a scheduled carrier.
Photo: Ibom Air
The airline placed the historical order with Airbus just two years into existence, highlighting its commitment to becoming a world-class African regional airline. In addition to one A220, Ibom Air operates five Bombardier CRJ900s, flying to seven destinations. The airline launched flights to Accra, its first international destination, in October 2023. Last year, the carrier also joined the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
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