On May 13, 2024, Ibex Airlines debuted a new passenger boarding stairs vehicle developed jointly with Shinmei Industry and Centrair GSE Service.
The new vehicle is designed specifically for use with Ibex’s sole aircraft type, the Bombardier CRJ-700, and was put into service at Fukuoka Airport. In addition to allowing passengers to board their aircraft using wider stairs than those built into the aircraft, the vehicle is also equipped with a wheelchair lift. Being self-powered, it is easier to operate than standalone stairs that need to be towed using a separate vehicle.
It is not clear to what extent Ibex plans to expand the use of the new vehicle. The airline operates a fleet of nine CRJ-700s on regional flights connecting approximately a dozen destinations in Japan with Sendai and Nagoya Chubu being its main hubs.
