Umo Eno, Governor of Akwa Ibom State has intensified efforts to expand Ibom Air’s fleet and establish Uyo as a regional aviation hub, with the development of an aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility emerging as a key component of the state’s aviation strategy.
The development came as Eno visited Montreal, Canada, on August 13, 2026, for the pre-delivery inspection of another brand-new Airbus A220-300 aircraft for Ibom Air.
According to a statement signed by Emmanuel Nicholas, the latest development builds on the airline’s expansion since it commenced operations on June 7, 2019, with two aircraft.
Ibom Air now operates nine aircraft, comprising seven Bombardier CRJ900s and two Airbus A220-300s, while additional aircraft from its existing Airbus order are expected to be delivered in phases.
The airline’s expansion is also being accompanied by efforts to strengthen the aviation infrastructure around Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo.
According to Nicholas, during his latest trip to Montreal, Eno held high-level discussions with SAMCO Group Europe and Airbus on the proposed MRO facility at the airport, with the objective of developing local maintenance capacity as the airline’s fleet expands.
The discussions with SAMCO, led by its CEO, Constant Van Shani, focused on technical support, aircraft maintenance, training, technology transfer and the development of a local aviation workforce.
SAMCO has previously maintained Ibom Air’s Airbus A220 aircraft at its facility in Maastricht, Netherlands.
The company expressed its readiness to support the development of the facility, saying, “We are here to get it done beyond consulting.”
The proposed MRO is expected to reduce the airline’s reliance on overseas maintenance facilities while creating opportunities for technical skills development and employment within Akwa Ibom.
Eno also met with Airbus Vice President, Hadi Akoum, during the visit, where he reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to keeping Ibom Air commercially viable and operationally strong.
The governor described Ibom Air as a “strategic economic asset” and a “forex-denominated business”, stressing its potential to contribute to tourism, trade and investment in the state.
Ibom Air’s expansion dates back to November 16, 2021, when the airline signed a firm agreement with Airbus at the Dubai Air Show for the acquisition of 10 new A220-300 aircraft.
The agreement was signed by Mfon Udom, Ibom Air Chief Executive Officer, and Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer, in the presence of then Governor Udom Emmanuel and the airline’s board.
The airline had earlier wet-leased two A220 aircraft for a year to assess their suitability for its operations.
According to the statement, the trial provided operational data that supported the decision to adopt the aircraft for both domestic and regional routes.
The first of the 10 A220-300 aircraft was delivered to Ibom Air in November 2023 at Airbus’ facility in Mirabel, Canada, marking the first delivery of the aircraft type to a Nigerian airline.
“Ibom Air had been deliberate. Two years earlier, the airline wet-leased two A220s for a year to test them. Within six months, the data was clear: the aircraft was perfect for both domestic hops and regional stretches. The goal was to grow the fleet from 7 to 17, and use the A220’s fuel efficiency and 3,400nm range to push into West and Central Africa.
“Two years after the signature, the promise materialised. In November 2023, in Montreal, Canada, Ibom Air received its first of the 10 Airbus A220-300s at Airbus’ Mirabel facility. It was a historic moment, the first time a Nigerian airline took delivery of the all-new Airbus A220,” the statement read
The statement noted that the financial commitments for the aircraft deliveries are being met by the current administration of Governor Eno, despite the original agreement having been signed under the previous administration.
Ibom Air commenced regional operations on October 17, 2023, with its inaugural Uyo-Accra service, marking its expansion beyond Nigeria.
The airline currently connects Uyo with major Nigerian cities including Lagos, Abuja, Calabar, Enugu and Port Harcourt, while plans have been outlined to expand its regional network to destinations including Malabo, Douala, Libreville, Kinshasa, Abidjan, Freetown, Banjul and Dakar.
Beyond the airline itself, the state government has invested in infrastructure intended to position Victor Attah International Airport as an international gateway.
The new international terminal at the airport has facilities including immigration and customs halls, VIP lounges, baggage handling systems, duty-free retail areas, airline offices, health and quarantine facilities and modern security screening systems.
The terminal also includes passenger boarding bridges and other facilities designed to support international operations.
The state government has also completed a new runway equipped with modern navigation aids, lighting and safety systems.
The upgrades are designed to enable the airport to accommodate larger aircraft and support international operations.
The government is also developing an Aviation Village within the airport corridor to provide accommodation and supporting infrastructure for engineers, pilots and other aviation professionals.
For Eno, the investments are intended to create an integrated aviation ecosystem rather than simply expand an airline.
The statement said the governor had taken ownership of the vision inherited from the previous administration and was seeking to expand it through investments in the airline, airport infrastructure, maintenance capacity and human capital.
Airbus, according to the statement, considers Ibom Air a major customer in Africa and highlighted the A220-300’s capacity of about 120 passengers and its cargo capabilities.
Since its launch in 2019, Ibom Air has also received recognition for its operational performance, including being named Airline of the Year in Nigeria by the Nigeria Travel Awards for more than three consecutive editions.
The airline has been recognised for its punctuality, customer service and operational discipline.
