As part of concerted and deliberate efforts to assuage the problem of insufficient planes and irregular flights to and from Margaret Ekpo International Airport Calabar, Governor Bassey Otu has increased fleet with three additional planes.
Towards realizing this objective therefore, the Cross River State-owned airline, Cally Air, managed by Aero, has resumed flight.
The resumption of flights operation at the Margaret Ekpo International Air port is meant to address the increasing air traffic to the ancient city of Calabar, especially at this yuletide period.
Receiving the Boeing 737 - 5N BYR Plane, Tuesday at the Airport, Calabar, the State Governor, Sen Bassey Otu commended his predecessor, Sen. Ben Ayade for initiating Cally Air and putting Cross River in the aviation map, saying with the 32-day nonstop fun to begin on November 30, the two planes are scheduled to fly the Lagos and Abuja routes and to Calabar respectively.
Speaking reassuringly, Governor Otu stated:"We have about three aircrafts that would be joining the fleet in no distant time,".
According to the governor, "Calabar has been an international airport and we want to raise it to that standard."
"Permit me to thank officials of the Ministry of Aviation and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for making it possible that flight, very soon, would be landing here till 9pm.
He disclosed that the lighting system is being restored and the airport is returning to total functionality to exist as an international airport, for which it is, Prince Otu asserted.
The governor used the opportunity to welcome investors and fun seekers into the State, while calling on them to explore the option of Cally Aero plan to visit Cross River for business or leisure.
"To all our guests, we are expecting all of you from December 1. By the time the festival is on, one can only imagine what the temperature is going to be like.
I want to thank Aero Contractors, our partner in this business. We have agreed to build even stronger and to make sure that this partnership becomes a very viable business for the state, Otu concluded.
Speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi, lauded the vision of governor Otu for graciously approving the return of services of both aircrafts to Calabar, describing him as man "poised to promoting tourism and repositioning Cross River into an economically viable state."
"Now, the two aircrafts are flying and we will cover the Carnival Calabar International Festival edition of 'Season of Sweetness' fully. We thank His Excellency for his visionary leadership in allowing us to achieve this aim. We thank the Almighty God for the privilege to be part of this success story," the CEO said.
While calling on air travelers to patronise Aero Cally, Sanusi informed that the State-owned aircrafts operate the most pocket-friendly airfares in the country.
