As Ibom Air makes future plan to add more destinations in weeks to come the management is effortlessly making sure to transform Nigeria’s aviation market.

The start-up carrier began operations in June 2019 with funding from the government of Akwa Ibom, the country’s largest oil-producing state. Its network was grounded during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, but flights resumed in July and one of two new routes planned before the crisis has already been launched.

Calabar became the airline’s fourth scheduled destination last month, joining capital city Abuja, financial hub Lagos and Uyo, the state capital of Akwa Ibom.

The airline’s next route will connect Lagos with another point in the south of the country, according to chief operating officer George Uriesi.

Ibom Air currently deploys a fleet of five 90-seat Bombardier CRJ900 regional jets. Plans for another two units have been put on hold until the impact of the Covid-19 crisis is better understood.

“We are busy reviewing our business plan now and waiting to see what kind of traction we get,” Uriesi affirmed. “We intend to grow our fleet of CRJ900s to ten, and we will then change to another, bigger aircraft type. We were going to get to ten in three years, but with Covid-19 only God knows what’s going to happen.”