Ibom Air has projected a revenue of ₦150 billion for 2025, a 64% increase from the ₦96 billion recorded in 2024, as the airline embarks on an ambitious growth and expansion drive across Africa.
The airline’s Acting Managing Director and CEO, Mr. George Uriesi, made this known during the Ibom Air Travel Agents Forum held in Lagos. He attributed six per cent of the 2024 revenue to the growing contribution of travel agents and said the company expects this figure to double by year-end.
Uriesi disclosed that Ibom Air will join the Global Distribution System (GDS) by October 2025 to enhance its global visibility. This integration will allow travel agents around the world to access the airline’s offerings, a move expected to bolster bookings and partnerships, especially with international carriers.
He also revealed that Ibom Air is preparing to launch flights to new regional destinations including Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), Douala (Cameroon), and Sao Tome and Principe. These new routes will be operated from the airline’s soon-to-be-commissioned terminal at Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, designed to serve as a strategic hub.
“We are about to expand operations across Africa,” Uriesi said. “Our new terminal is the only hub terminal in Nigeria, built to support our strategy. We’re matching it with top-tier aircraft and committed to reliable, on-time performance.”
He acknowledged ongoing challenges such as flight cancellations and delays, explaining that maintaining an aircraft on standby to mitigate disruptions is costly but necessary. “It’s like killing our business, but reliability is our promise to passengers,” he said.
Despite operational hurdles, Uriesi affirmed that the airline’s growth trajectory is firmly on course. He credited travel agents for contributing significantly to this progress and pledged deeper collaboration going forward.
“Our partners have helped us reach six per cent of our revenue in just six months. We expect that to reach 12 per cent by the end of the year,” he noted. “This forum is our way of saying we recognise and value your role in our success.”
Uriesi added that Ibom Air aims to replicate the hub model used by successful African airlines like ASKY in Togo, stating, “Africa has the power, the numbers, and the passengers—but success requires time, discipline, and commitment to process.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that members of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents (NANTA), the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), and other key stakeholders were present at the event. Some travel agents were honoured with certificates in recognition of their outstanding performance and partnership with Ibom Air.
