By ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo –
Ibom Air, a wholly indigenous airline owned by the Akwa Ibom State government has set a turnover target of N150bn for 2025.
Last year, it recorded a remarkable increase in revenue hitting N96 bn with the next phase of growth expected to come from the entry into service of the new terminal at Victor Attah International Airport, which would allow the airline transit from a point-to-point carrier to a hub and spoke network carrier.
The Acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr George Uriesi, made this known during a meeting with members of the travel agents forum in Lagos.
The forum made up of travel agents, high-net-worth individuals (HNIs), and representatives of prominent travel and tourism bodies including the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), and the League of Aviation and Airport Correspondents (LAAC), brought together representatives from across the travel and tourism ecosystem for a robust roundtable conversation.
The session which was attended by Ibom Air’s top management, Amaka Echetabu Director Airline services, Aniekan Essienette Group Manager Marketing and Communications was part of a continued effort to strengthen its relationships with key industry stakeholders, Ibom Air has played host to the Travel Agents Forum in Lagos,
Mr Uriesi emphasized the critical role that travel agents and tourism stakeholders play in shaping the airline’s growth and customer engagement strategy.
“Our success as an airline is deeply connected to the partnerships we foster within the industry. This forum allows us to listen, learn, and co-create value with our most trusted partners,” he said.
The roundtable conversation explored strategies to enhance collaboration, improve customer experiences, and create stronger commercial alignment between Ibom Air and its partners.
In responding to input from the travel agents, Uriesi said the airline was on a growth trajectory and was thankful for the contribution of travel agents to the airline’s revenue since they came on board 6 months ago.
He assured them that they had come on board at a time when the airline was just getting into its growth phase, which promised mutually beneficial business to them and to the airline.
A highlight of the event was the presentation of 6 months service certificates to active business partners present at the event, as well as awards to the top 5 travel agents in terms of revenue contribution, acknowledging their immense contributions to the revenue growth of the airline.
The Airline thanked its business partners and promised to continue to strengthen its relationship with them, as they are a key stakeholder group for the airline.
