Nigeria’s Ibom Air has delivered its first A220-300 aircraft, a collaboration between the airline and Airbus Canada, at the Airbus site in Mirabel, Canada.
The aircraft will be based in Uyo, Nigeria.
Ibom Air plans to deploy its A220 on short-haul routes and enhance regional connectivity with intra-continental air routes.
Nigeria’s largest population and GDP make the A220 an ideal choice for Ibom Air due to its clean-sheet, single-aisle aircraft with advanced technologies.
The A220 is a 100-150 seat aircraft with exceptional fuel efficiency and passenger comfort, suitable for long-distance flights up to 3,450 nautical miles.
Ibom Air’s initial A220 configuration will feature 132 dual-class seats, including 120 economy class and 12 business class seats.
The A220 aircraft, featuring advanced aerodynamics, materials, and Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation GTFâ„¢ engines, offers 25% lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions per seat compared to previous-generation aircraft.
The aircraft’s noise footprint has been significantly reduced by approximately 50% compared to previous-generation aircraft.
Airbus aims to achieve 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) usage in all its aircraft by 2030, with the A220 already capable of 50% SAF usage.
As of October 2023, the A220 has received approximately 820 orders, with over 295 currently in service with 17 global operators.
