Cross River State will commence night flight operations at Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, on November 1 to accommodate the expected influx of visitors for the 2026 Calabar Carnival.

The airport will operate until 10 p.m. daily, while Cally Air, the state-owned airline operated by ValuJet, is expected to increase flight frequency to meet rising travel demand during the annual festival.

Governor Bassey Otu disclosed the development, projecting that more than one million people would visit Calabar, the state capital, for this year’s carnival.

He said the carnival, alongside his administration’s economic policies, had strengthened Calabar’s appeal as a destination for tourism, business and investment, necessitating improvements in the state’s aviation services.

According to the governor, the growing number of visitors, business engagements and conferences in the state has made reliable air connectivity increasingly important.

Otu said his administration was working to strengthen Cally Air’s capacity, noting that the airline had expanded its fleet to about eight aircraft. He added that efforts were ongoing to secure an Air Operator Certificate (AOC), which would enable it to operate as a fully certified commercial carrier.

The governor explained that improved flight connections would give passengers greater certainty when travelling to and from Calabar, while supporting the state’s broader economic development plans.

He also provided an update on the proposed airport project in Obudu, saying progress had been made but that the project remained subject to stringent aviation regulations.

Otu said the state was complying with the necessary requirements to obtain the relevant approvals and ensure that its aviation operations met the prescribed standards.