Ibom Air Expands to Central Africa in 2025
Nigerian carrier Ibom Air is set to broaden its regional footprint by adding two to three new Central African destinations in 2025. Building on its existing intra-African route between Lagos, Nigeria, and Accra, Ghana, the airline aims to enhance connectivity within the continent while maintaining a strong focus on regional operations.
Currently operating seven destinations—six domestic within Nigeria and one regional route to Ghana—Ibom Air utilizes a fleet of seven CRJ900s and two Airbus A220-300s. However, with an impressive average load factor of nearly 90%, the airline recognizes the need to upgrade its fleet to meet growing demand. To address this, Ibom Air has nine additional A220-300s scheduled for delivery by 2028, with plans to transition to an all-A220 fleet. Executive Director and COO George Uriesi emphasized that the CRJ900s are insufficient to handle the increasing passenger numbers, necessitating the shift to larger, more efficient aircraft.
“We’re breaking into regional [flights],” Uriesi stated during an interview with Aviation Week. “We started with Lagos-Accra about a year ago and, from next year, we’re going to expand to two or three other regional destinations.” These new Central African routes will operate as interconnected stops rather than direct services, allowing Ibom Air to maximize efficiency and meet passenger demand effectively.
Potential new destinations include major cities such as Cairo, Egypt; Cape Town, South Africa; and Casablanca, Morocco. Despite these ambitious plans, Ibom Air has no intentions of venturing into long-haul international flights, choosing instead to focus exclusively on African markets. “Let the Ethiopians and the Egyptians do all of that,” Uriesi remarked. “We will stay in Africa.”
Ibom Air’s strategic expansion is centered on maximizing load factors and increasing flight frequencies rather than merely chasing market share or new destinations. “Our strategy is not to expand and stretch ourselves thin but to maintain our footprint where we have frequencies,” Uriesi explained. By concentrating on existing and new regional routes, Ibom Air ensures consistent service quality and operational efficiency.
The airline’s growth strategy also includes enhancing its interline partnerships. Although Ibom Air currently operates without any codeshares, it previously had an interline agreement with the now-defunct Nigerian carrier Dana Air. Uriesi is actively seeking new interline partnerships to provide partners with access to its robust Nigerian domestic feeder flights. “We have a number of potential [interline] partners that we’ve spoken to—a number of international carriers—who have either come to us, or we’ve gone to them. We’re busy discussing, and we’re nearly at the point now where we will actually sign up with them,” he added. “I’m sure, by next year, we’ll start signing off.”
Ibom Air’s commitment to regional expansion is supported by its modern fleet. The Airbus A220-300s offer the necessary range and capacity for short to medium-haul flights, making them ideal for the airline’s targeted Central African routes. These aircraft are known for their fuel efficiency, passenger comfort, and reliability, aligning perfectly with Ibom Air’s goals of providing high-quality service while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
As Ibom Air prepares to launch its new routes, the airline continues to prioritize customer satisfaction and operational excellence. By focusing on strategic regional expansion and fleet modernization, Ibom Air is well-positioned to become a leading player in the African aviation market. The addition of new Central African destinations will not only enhance connectivity but also support economic growth and tourism across the region.
Ibom Air’s expansion plans reflect a broader trend within the African aviation industry, where carriers are increasingly focusing on regional connectivity to meet the growing demand for air travel. With its strategic initiatives and commitment to excellence, Ibom Air is set to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of air travel in Central Africa.
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