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Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, has said that the state government will soon float an airline, “Cally Air’’, as part of its tourism investment drive.
Ayade said this on Monday in Calabar, the state capital, when he received a consortium of Indian investors.
He said the airline, which would debut in November, will be managed by Dana Group under a Public Private Partnership arrangement.
He said: “We have our own state’s aircraft currently in Aero Contractors’ fleet in Lagos.
“The management of Dana Airline has agreed to do a detailed technical study of the aircraft before it commences commercial flight operations.”
Ayade added that the state was in a haste to get the airline started with Dana as its partner.
The Managing Director of Dana Group, Mr. Jackies Hartmani, applauded the partnership between his group and the state government.
“My company is very impressed with what Governor Ayade is doing to transform the state in terms of investment and we are committed to ensuring the success of the partnership,’’ he said.
Cally Air would fly Calabar, Obudu, Lagos and Abuja routes.