…From Cabin Crew to Chief Pilot – First to fly a brand-new aircraft into Nigeria 

Captain Ruth Adeola Adebanwo, Chief Pilot of Ibom Air, has made headlines after flying the airline’s brand-new Airbus A220-300 from the Airbus facility in Mirabel, Canada, to Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, adding another milestone to her more than two-decade career in aviation.

Adebanwo was at the controls of the aircraft as it made its delivery journey of approximately 8,945 kilometres from Canada to Akwa Ibom on September 1, 2026.

The arrival of the new aircraft attracted dignitaries, aviation officials, airline personnel and residents who gathered at the Uyo airport to welcome the latest addition to Ibom Air’s fleet.

However, much of the attention quickly shifted to the cockpit when Captain Adebanwo emerged after completing the long-haul delivery flight.

Reports have described the flight as making Adebanwo the first Nigerian woman to fly a brand-new aircraft into Nigeria, a distinction that further adds to her growing profile as one of the country’s prominent female aviation professionals.

But the significance of the September 1 flight goes beyond the aircraft itself.

Adebanwo has already established herself as a senior figure in Nigeria’s aviation industry and currently serves as Chief Pilot of Ibom Air, a position she occupied before the arrival of the new Airbus.

Ibom Air had previously celebrated her appointment as the woman heading its flight crew, making her latest achievement an addition to an already established leadership career rather than the beginning of her rise.

From cabin crew to Chief Pilot

Captain Adebanwo’s journey into the cockpit did not begin with flight training.

She started her aviation career as a cabin crew member, serving passengers before making the transition into the cockpit and pursuing professional pilot training in South Africa.

Over more than 20 years in aviation, she has gained experience flying different aircraft types and working with several Nigerian airlines, including Aero Contractors and Arik Air, before joining Ibom Air.

Her career progression from cabin crew to pilot and eventually Chief Pilot reflects a journey built through training, experience and increasing responsibility within the aviation industry.

She has also received recognition for her contribution to the travel and tourism sector, having been named among the Top 100 Women in Travel and Tourism in Africa.

Her latest achievement comes at a time when women remain underrepresented in several technical and senior operational roles across the aviation industry.

For many young women aspiring to careers in aviation, Adebanwo’s story offers a different picture of what is possible.

She began her career serving passengers in the cabin. Today, she leads an airline’s flight crew and commands commercial aircraft.

On September 1, she took that journey a step further, flying a brand-new Airbus from the manufacturer’s facility in Canada to its new home in Akwa Ibom.

The moment Captain Ruth Adeola Adebanwo stepped out of the cockpit in Uyo therefore represented more than the arrival of a new aircraft.

It marked another milestone in the journey of a woman who moved from the cabin crew to the cockpit and from the cockpit to leadership.

For women and girls watching her career, the message is unmistakable: the aviation industry—and the cockpit—has room for women who are prepared to take their place.