C-River Govt Boosts Cally Air Fleet With Boeing 737
BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – Cross River State Government (CRSG) has taken delivery of another Boeing 737 to boost its Cally Air fleet for effective service delivery.
The latest development brings to two the number of aircraft currently operating under the Cally Air ownership.
Governor Bassey Edet Otu, who took delivery of the aircraft from Aero Contractors, said negotiations are ongoing to increase the fleet to five with the acquisition of three more aircrafts to further boost the airline’s operations going forward.
He also hinted that arrangements have been concluded with the management of Federal Airport Authorities of Nigeria (FAAN) to ensure the Margaret Ekpo International Airport swings into action with a beehive of activities to suit its status as an international airport.
According to Governor Otu, the first step involves having flight schedules in and out of the airport up to 9pm daily.
He appreciated the Aero Contractors management team for being a reliable business partner in its dealings with the Cross River State Government.
A brief ceremony held at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar where the CRSG took delivery of the additional aircraft, saw the Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Abdul Sanusi pledging the company’s readiness to assist the State government further boost its tourism initiatives and programmes.
He promised that this would be done by ensuring regular flights throughout this year’s festive period, stressing that air transportation remains a critical ingredient in the success of any tourism venture.
Cally Air’s operations commenced on 16th July 2021, when a Boeing 737 aircraft was received on touchdown by the then Governor, Professor Benedict Ayade, who boarded it for inspection and described the event as a dream that started in 2017 come true.
Available information indicates that as of May 2022, Cally Air flies to the following destinations in the country: Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar; Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos; and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
Meanwhile, the CRSG has donated one million Naira (N1m) each to about ten hotels currently partnering with it to drive economic initiatives for sustainable tourism growth in the state.
Presenting cheques for the amount to the selected hotels at the Marina Resort hub in Calabar, the State capital, Managing Director of Cross River Tourism Bureau, (CRTB), Chief Ojo Ekpenyong, said the beneficiaries were carefully selected based on their commendable and remarkable efforts in promoting a healthy and attractive hospitality endeavours across the State.
He pointed out that the grant is not just a financial support, but also a vote of confidence on the beneficiaries’ avowed commitment to partner the state government in the drive towards effective and efficient tourism growth even in the face of dire economic melt down.
The Bureau Chief said the tourism industry can only thrive when it’s critical partner like the hospitality sector is in a good economic footing
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Managing Director of Pyramid Hotels, Chief Charles Ogar commended the CRSG for such positive initiative, pointing out that the grant would go a long way to assist them in upgrading facilities in their respective hotels.
They also promised to reciprocate the government’s kind gesture by working hard in tandem with the “People’s First Agenda” of the current administration in the State.
