FLIGHT REVIEW: Ibom Air: Uyo – Accra

Introduction 

Now in its seventh year, Ibom Air has grown to become one of the leading airlines in Nigeria. Renowned for its impressive on-time performance and schedule reliability, Ibom Air has become the airline of choice for many air travellers. In 2023, it made its debut in the regional market with the launch of services between Lagos and Accra.

Building on that milestone, the airline recently made history with the launch of direct international flights between its home base in Uyo and Accra, further strengthening air connectivity between Nigeria and Ghana. I had the opportunity to travel on the inaugural outbound flight, and it proved to be a memorable experience.

Here's a closer look at every stage of the journey, from check-in in Uyo to touchdown in Accra.

Flight Overview

Airline: Ibom Air

Route: Uyo – Accra

Date: 28 June 2026

Flight Number: QI640

Class: Economy

Seat: 15F (Window)

Aircraft: Bombardier CRJ-900

Scheduled Departure Time: 12:00

Actual Departure Time: 12:15

Scheduled Arrival Time: 12:40 (local time)

Actual Arrival Time: 12:32 (local time)

Flight Time: 1 hour 17 minutes

Cruising Altitude: 28,000 feet

Arrival and Check-in

I arrived at the brand-new terminal of Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, at 9:50 am, a little over two hours before the scheduled departure time. Ibom Air moved its operations to this new terminal just two weeks earlier, and this was my first time travelling through it.

After taking a few moments to familiarise myself with the terminal, I entered the building and proceeded through the preliminary security screening, which was completed in a matter of minutes. I then made my way to Ibom Air's check-in counters. 

I was attended to by courteous and friendly staff who seemed to be excited about the new route. The passenger profiling and check-in process was quick and straightforward, and contributed to a smooth pre-departure experience for me. Self-service check-in kiosks were available inside the terminal, but I didn't use one.

With my boarding pass issued and some time on my hands, I decided to hang around the check-in area to appreciate the terminal's modern design. 

As boarding time approached, I proceeded to the international departure wing where I cleared immigration and security. Both formalities were completed efficiently, with minimal waiting time.

Despite being an inaugural international departure, the terminal remained calm and orderly, with the various pre-departure formalities handled efficiently.

Boarding and Departure

Pre-boarding checks began at 11:22 am. The first boarding announcement was made over the public address system at 11:35 am.

Although boarding began through an aerobridge, we were directed down a staircase to the airside before walking the short distance to the waiting aircraft. The entire boarding process was orderly and well coordinated. With boarding formalities completed and the aircraft's door armed and cross-checked, we began our taxi to Runway 21.

Following a short take-off roll, the CRJ-900 gently lifted off the runway at exactly 12:15 pm on the westbound flight to Accra. The aircraft climbed through a thick overcast before breaking out into clear skies above. We quickly levelled off and cruised at 28,000 feet above sea level. From my Economy Class seat, the view was spectacular.

The Aircraft

The flight was operated by a Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft registered as 5N-BWK. This particular aircraft was delivered to Ibom Air in 2019 and is powered by a pair of General Electric CF34-8C engines. Despite the weather, 5N-BWK handled the flight beautifully.

Cabin and Seat

The aircraft's cabin looked clean and appeared well-maintained. It featured a total of 90 seats configured in a 2-2 layout, guaranteeing every passenger either a window or an aisle seat, effectively eliminating the discomfort associated with middle seats.

My seat was 15F - a window seat in the Economy Class cabin. Both seat width and legroom were generous for the 77-minute flight. The seat was ergonomic and reclined to a comfortable angle for resting and napping during the flight. The overhead bins were adequate for standard carry-on luggage.

The cabin temperature was comfortable and the lighting appropriate for the time of day. The onboard lavatory was in good condition, although, as expected on a regional jet, it was fairly compact.

Crew and Flight

On the flight deck, Captain William Iyoho was in command, and he was assisted by First Officer Mfoniso Mkpong. From the flight deck, the crew's pre-flight and en-route briefings were clear, reassuring and professionally delivered, and provided passengers with the essential information about the journey.

Onboard, the cabin crew were welcoming and genuinely helpful throughout the flight. They responded to call buttons promptly. In keeping with Ibom Air’s signature hospitality, they maintained a warm atmosphere throughout the cabin and contributed significantly to a comfortable flight. 

The cabin crew were led by Purser Ukeme Essien, who demonstrated uncommon professionalism and maintained a high standard of service throughout the journey. His in-flight announcements were delivered with confidence, clarity, and excellent diction, giving passengers reassurance throughout the flight. His firm voice and smooth delivery reflected a high level of professionalism.

In-flight Catering

About 20 minutes into the flight, the captain turned off the seat belt sign and the in-flight dining service commenced. It was a tray service. The offering was more substantial than I had expected.

The tray contained a freshly prepared sandwich, a pouch of groundnut crunchies, a pack of Happy Hour fruit juice, a bottle of water, and a cool mint sweet. The sandwich was freshly made and served at the right temperature. It was satisfying and tasted really nice.

Initially, I assumed that the tray service was all and represented the airline's standard snack offering. However, we were also given the Ibom Air's familiar snack pack, making the catering more generous than I had anticipated. This was a pleasant surprise.

The snack pack contained a pouch of groundnut crunchies, a bottle of water, one cupcake, one Happy Hour fruit juice, and one mint sweet. I particularly enjoyed the groundnut crunchies as they were delightfully crunchy, moderately spicy, and savoury.

Arrival in Accra

The westbound journey from Uyo to Accra took us along the Gulf of Guinea coastline before entering the Ghanaian airspace. We commenced our initial descent about 20 minutes before touchdown.

Following the 77-minute flight from the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, we safely landed ahead of schedule at Accra International Airport at exactly 1:32 pm local time. From the initial descent through the flare and touchdown, the approach was smooth and professionally executed by the crew.

With the aircraft having come to a complete stop and the seatbelt sign turned off, passengers disembarked row by row as directed by the cabin crew. It was orderly.

Inside the terminal, immigration formalities were completed efficiently. Free Wi-Fi was available throughout the terminal, while baggage reclaim was equally swift. The overall arrival experience was seamless.

Final Verdict

Ibom Air's Flight QI640 delivered a polished experience defined by attentive and friendly staff, comfortable seating, professional ground staff, flight deck crew and cabin crew, as well as an impressive on-time performance.

Although the flight departed Uyo 15 minutes late, we arrived in Accra ahead of schedule. From the warm professionalism of both ground and flight crews to the attentive in-flight service, the experience was everything the airline promised. Overall, the flight reflected the high operational standards and customer-focused service that have become synonymous with Ibom Air.

For travellers seeking a seamless and cost-effective connection between South-east Nigeria and Ghana, Ibom Air's new direct Uyo-Accra service presents a compelling option. Based on my personal experience, passengers on this service can expect impressive customer service, on-time performance, and schedule reliability as well as the airline's signature hospitality.

Trip Summary

Check-in – 9.5/10 

Boarding – 9.5/10 

Crew – 9.8/10 

Seat Comfort – 9.5/10 

In-flight Catering – 9.5/10 

Punctuality – 9.5/10 

Aircraft – 9.0/10 

Overall Rating – 9.5/10

Chidozie Uzoezie is an aviation analyst, travel writer, travel influencer, digital content creator, newspaper columnist, and contributor to several in-flight magazines. He can be reached on WhatsApp at +234 817 837 9876.