Captain Ruth Adeola Adebanwo, Chief Pilot of Ibom Air, flew Ibom Air’s Airbus A220-300 from Canada to Nigeria. Her achievement marks a milestone in her more-than-two-decade aviation career and highlights women’s representation in the cockpit.
The brand-new aircraft arrived at Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on September 1, 2026, after departing from Airbus’ A220 final assembly facility in Mirabel, Quebec.
For Ibom Air, the arrival expanded a growing modern fleet. For Adebanwo, it was another visible moment in a career that began long before she became one of the senior figures in Nigerian commercial aviation.
From Cabin Crew to Ibom Air Chief Pilot
Adebanwo’s journey into the cockpit was not immediate.
Before becoming a pilot, she worked as cabin crew after completing training at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology in Zaria. But flying remained her ambition.
In a 2018 interview with Punch Newspapers, Adebanwo recalled pursuing opportunities to train abroad while working in the cabin. She eventually gained admission to flight school in South Africa in 2001 and obtained her pilot licence in 2003.
Her professional flying career later included roles with Julius Berger, Aero Contractors and Arik Air before she joined Ibom Air and rose to become Chief Pilot.
Ibom Air says Adebanwo now leads its flight crew and has more than 20 years of aviation experience. The airline has also highlighted her recognition among Africa’s Top 100 Women in Travel and Tourism.
Her flight from Mirabel to Uyo was therefore not an isolated breakthrough. It was the result of years of training, progression and experience in an industry where reaching command positions can take decades.
Adebanwo’s progression also reflects a wider lesson about professional growth: careers are rarely built on credentials alone.
As ADP explored in its feature on career growth through connection, knowledge and continuous development, access to learning, mentorship and professional networks can shape how far talent is able to go.
Why Adebanwo’s Flight Matters for Women in Aviation
Adebanwo’s visibility comes against a persistent gender gap in aviation.
The International Civil Aviation Organization’s latest global survey of licensed aviation personnel found that women represented about 4 percent of pilots worldwide.
That makes senior female pilots particularly visible examples for younger women considering aviation careers.
That question of access extends beyond aviation. ADP has also explored how women are opening technical and future-focused fields to younger generations, including Canadian futurist Sinead Bovell’s work helping young people understand and participate in emerging technology.
Adebanwo’s story also challenges the idea that representation is simply about being present. She is leading flight operations at a Nigerian airline and commanding modern commercial aircraft after building the professional experience required to do so.
For aspiring African female pilots, that distinction matters.
The message is not only that women can enter aviation. It is that they can build long careers, earn command positions and lead within the industry.
New Airbus A220-300 Expands Ibom Air’s Fleet
The aircraft Adebanwo brought to Nigeria is registered 5N-CDC and is Ibom Air’s third Airbus A220-300.
Ibom Air formally took delivery of the aircraft in Mirabel on August 26, 2026. Its arrival brought the airline’s fleet to 10 aircraft: seven CRJ900s and three Airbus A220-300s.
The airline placed a firm order for 10 A220-300 aircraft at the Dubai Airshow in 2021. The newest aircraft is the second delivered under that order, following the first factory-new A220 delivered in 2023. Ibom Air separately acquired another A220-300 in 2024.
Airbus lists the A220-300 with a maximum range of about 3,400 nautical miles and capacity for up to 160 passengers. The aircraft is designed for regional and medium-haul operations, giving airlines flexibility as they expand their networks.
For Ibom Air, the latest delivery forms part of a broader fleet-modernisation and growth programme.
A Canada-to-Nigeria Aviation Story With Wider Significance
There is another dimension to the journey.
The aircraft was built in Canada, handed over at Airbus’ Mirabel facility and flown to a Nigerian airline by an experienced Nigerian female captain.
That makes the delivery a compelling Canada–Nigeria story at the intersection of aviation, professional achievement and African representation.
Afro Diaspora Pulse has continued to document Africans breaking barriers across industries, from emerging leaders and entrepreneurs to professionals building careers across borders.
Captain Ruth Adeola Adebanwo belongs within that wider story which is visible across sectors.
ADP’s coverage of the 2026 Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 generation documents Africans building influence across technology, healthcare, business, sport and the creative industries, another reminder that African professional excellence is increasingly shaping industries at home and globally.
Adebanwo’s journey from cabin crew to pilot, captain and eventually Chief Pilot demonstrates what professional growth often looks like in reality: years of preparation, setbacks, experience and persistence before the highly visible moment arrives.
The new Airbus will soon become part of Ibom Air’s everyday operations.
But for a young girl looking at an aircraft cockpit and wondering whether a woman who looks like her can one day sit in the captain’s seat, Adebanwo’s journey provides something more concrete than encouragement.
It provides evidence.
