Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha together with members of
the State Executive Council and Imo state residents/
indigenes were at the Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport yesterday
to celebrate the acquisition of the first Imo state owned flight,
Imo Air.
The 140-Seater plane is reportedly one of five aircraft
acquired by the state government and will be operated by
Dana on behalf of the state until Imo Air gets a license to
operate.
At the Inauguration of Imo Air yesterday, Governor Okorocha
said that it was his dream to place Imo state on the pathway
to development and growth and the Imo Air venture is
believed to be an investment which will generate internal
revenue for the state and achieve this dream. He went on to
inform that Imo state is not affected by the recession hence
they could go into such ventures. It was also disclosed that
Imo Air will give a 10% discount to indigenes of Imo state
who board the plane while as much as 30% of the indigenes
of the state will be employed by the airline.
“This is a happy moment in the State. The aim of going into
the Air business is because I want to drive traffic to Imo State
as Imo is genuinely becoming the fastest developing City
outside Abuja and Lagos. For this, there is need for more
airlines to cushion the effects of high traffic coming to the
State," Okorocha said.
“Imo government does not have an operating air license. So
we needed to partner with a good and qualified airline
operator. Hence, the choice of DANA Air because of its
proven track record and sincerity of purpose. The Imo Air will
be operated by DANA and we have a contract of ten years
with them. We have five of this aircraft and the first one has
just landed and four other ones will start operation in few
weeks time.
He continued, “The International Cargo Airport will soon kick-
start to supplement the efforts of Imo Air.
In our pursuit of
making Imo better, Imo International Cargo Airport will soon
commence operations. Work is going on smoothly and by
April God’s willing the fastest International Cargo Plane will
arrive Imo State. This, we believe will help drive up
commercial activities in the State. Imo is a hub for business
and there is no better place to invest now in Nigeria than Imo
State as inspite of the recession the State is still flourishing
and progressing because of its visionary leadership.”
The DANA AIR Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Mbanuzuo Obi,
while remarking on the Partnership between DANA AIR and
Imo Air said, “The partnership between DANA and the good
people of Imo State will create employment and better
working relationship for the State. Imo AIR is in safe hands
and the choice of DANA AIR for the partnership is an
excellent choice as DANA AIR is registered with International
Air Transport Association operations and security treasuring.”
