Akwa Ibom state government owned airline in Nigeria, Ibom Air has signed a firm order for 10 Airbus A220s at the Dubai Airshow.
The signing was done by the chief executive officer of Ibom Air, Mfon Udom and chief commercial officer and head of Airbus International, Christian Scherer in the presence of the Akwa Ibom state Governor, Udom Gabriel Emmanuel.
Nigeria, with the largest population in Africa and the largest GDP, offers substantial growth potential in both domestic and regional travel. The A220 is therefore the ideal choice for a full range of services from very short-haul segments to intra-continental air routes.
Udom said the airline has achieved growth, chiefly driven by the massive embrace of its product and brand by the Nigerian domestic flying public.
“The addition of the A220 to our fleet will support our growth strategy and boost operational efficiency,” he said.
Ibom Air currently operates two A220s. The airline flies to Uyo, Abuja, Calabar, Enugu, Lagos, and Port Harcourt. The purchase of the new A220s will enable the airline to continue on its growth path, offering new routes across not just Nigeria, but to the west African region and to Africa at large.
The A220 is the only aircraft purpose-built for the 100-150 seat market; it delivers unbeatable fuel efficiency and a wide body comfort experience in a single-aisle cabin, with extra wide seats, more leg room and onboard connectivity for entertainment and communication.
The A220 brings together state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation geared turbofan engines. With a range of up to 3,450 nm (6,390 km), the A220 gives airlines added operational flexibility.
The A220 delivers up to 25% lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions per seat compared to previous generation aircraft, and 50% lower NOx emissions than industry standards. In addition, the aircraft noise footprint is reduced by 50% compared to previous generation aircraft – making the A220 a good neighbour around airports.
By the end of October 2021, the A220 had accumulated 643 firm orders.