On April 12, Nigeria’s Ibom Air earned its Operational Safety Audit Certificate after meeting the global industry safety standard. This ensures the airline’s commitment to safety and gets it one step closer to full IATA membership.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) formally handed Ibom Airlines Limited with the accreditation, which is a requirement for all IATA members. The airline began operations around three years ago, and this accomplishment is critical for the airline’s further expansion and industry objectives.
Getting to the worldwide industrial standard
The IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) is a global industry standard for assessing safety, and accreditation is a great accomplishment for any airline. The certificate was presented to the Ibom Air management team, led by CEO Mfon Udom, at the airline’s headquarters in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom state, Nigeria.
George Uriesi, Chief Operating Officer of Ibom Air, was also present. IATA was represented by Dr. Samson Fatokun, Area Manager, West and Central Africa, and Jennifer Aisha Yeates, Assistant Director of Operations Safety and Security, West and Central Africa.
George Uriesi congratulated the Ibom team on their historic victory. He expressed management’s gratitude for the critical effort of the team in transforming the carrier into a world-class regional airline, which is one of the company’s most significant aims. Uriesi stated during the presentation;
“The IOSA Certification achieved by Ibom Air at this time is very much in line with our continental aspirations as we move to position our airline strongly on the African continent.” Our approach for expanding our reach across Africa includes various interline agreements and excellent collaboration with partner airlines. IOSA certification is required for this.”
The certification demonstrates the airline’s dedication to aviation safety. It is an important milestone for Ibom and emphasizes its safety standards. This allows the carrier to fulfill its mission of creating a safe, service-focused, and profitable organization.
Audit of Operational Safety by IATA
For the past two decades, IOSA has set the industry standard for safety auditing, improving safety performance, and providing substantial cost-cutting solutions to participating airlines. The program is critical for airlines because it is a requirement for IATA membership.
In collaboration with industry partners, the industry body continues to establish the IOSA Standards and Recommended Practices (ISARPs). It analyzes an airline’s operational management and safety procedures for consistent certification using internationally recognized quality auditing concepts.
As a result, IOSA has become the global standard for airline safety and operational review. Ibom Air was audited in the second half of 2022, nearly three years after its regional service began. The achievement in safety was attributed to the quality and safety team, which was led by Engineer Edem Essien.
Ibom Air, which focuses on providing superior services in the West African region, is completely owned by the Akwa Ibom State Government. It offers flights to seven locations on nine routes using a fleet of five Bombardier CRJ 900s and two Airbus A320-300s. It wants to become the airline of choice for passengers through schedule reliability, on-time departures, and IOSA accreditation.
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