Akwa Ibom State-owned airline, Ibom Air, has recorded more than 65,000 flights and transported nearly five million passengers since commencing commercial operations in June 2019.
The airline disclosed the milestone in a statement issued by its Group Manager, Marketing and Communication, Aniekan Essienette, on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, as Akwa Ibom marked its 39th anniversary.
According to the airline, its operations have expanded significantly over the past seven years, with its fleet now standing at 10 aircraft. Ibom Air currently serves seven domestic destinations in Nigeria and one regional destination, Accra in Ghana.
The airline said its growth has helped strengthen air connectivity while supporting trade, investment, tourism and business travel involving Akwa Ibom and other destinations.
Ibom Air also said its operations have contributed to employment and skills development, with hundreds of Akwa Ibom indigenes working across leadership, flight operations, engineering, customer service, finance and other technical areas.
The airline said young professionals from the state have also received aviation training in Nigeria and abroad, including programmes in Ethiopia and France, as part of efforts to develop local aviation expertise.
Beyond its aviation operations, Ibom Air said its activities and supply-chain relationships have injected more than N60 billion into the Akwa Ibom economy and supported thousands of indirect jobs.
The airline was established by the Akwa Ibom State Government to improve connectivity, stimulate economic activity and demonstrate the state’s capacity to develop and operate a state-owned commercial airline.
Ibom Air’s latest milestone comes after the carrier expanded its fleet to 10 aircraft, including seven Bombardier CRJ-900s and three Airbus A220-300s. The airline has also been expanding its regional operations following the commencement of scheduled flights to Accra.
Earlier this month, Governor Umo Eno said Ibom Air had carried 4,953,512 passengers across 65,152 scheduled flights, putting the airline on course to cross the five-million-passenger mark before the end of September.
The airline’s latest figures place it among the significant developments in Akwa Ibom’s aviation sector since its launch in 2019, while its expanding fleet and route network continue to support the state’s efforts to improve connectivity and promote business and tourism.