The Cross River government says it will take delivery of two new aircraft in March as part of plans to boost the state airline company.

Governor Bassey Otu disclosed this to journalists in Calabar at a media parley on Tuesday.

Mr Otu said the plan to resuscitate the state airline was to provide an alternative transportation system as well as a travelling experience for residents and visitors to the state.

He expressed regret that residents and tourists in Cross River were experiencing difficulties travelling to the state because of flight cancellations and delays, but he said that this would change once Calli Air resumed operations.

“We have worked on the engines of the other aircraft we have, and we are also in the process of receiving two additional ones by March.

“We are working to have the biggest airline in the country and ultimately solve the Calabar route challenge. We are hoping to fly beyond Nigeria when this starts,” he said.

The governor noted that with the cost of fuel and the state of federal roads in Cross River, his administration was on the verge of developing the rail system.

He revealed that the Obudu cargo and passenger airport was receiving priority attention to provide an alternative to the flying public.

“God has afforded us the opportunity to buy into the experiences of our predecessors. They did not do badly. All that is needed is fresh breath by injecting modern values into some of these policies that have lost value with time.

“We will put together these policies and recreate them to serve the generation of today,” Mr Otu said.

(NAN)