Ibom Air dismisses monopoly claims over Uyo airport

The management of Ibom Air has dismissed claims that it operates a monopoly at the Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo or actively prevents competing domestic airlines from servicing the Akwa Ibom State capital.

In a statement on Sunday, the state-owned carrier clarified that it possesses neither the statutory authority nor the operational mandate to control flight access to the airport or any other aviation facility across the country.

The airline emphasized that the authority to approve, regulate, schedule, or suspend airline operations nationwide resides strictly with statutory aviation regulators.

Citing Section 8(3) of the Civil Aviation Act 2022, Ibom Air pointed out that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) remains the sole regulatory body empowered to govern civil aviation operations in Nigeria.

The carrier maintained that any airline meeting the NCAA’s operational and safety standards is fully entitled to receive approvals and operate out of Uyo, independent of any external airline’s influence.

Addressing misconceptions surrounding route adjustments and flight frequencies, Ibom Air urged the flying public to distinguish between an airline’s internal operational choices and an act of exclusion.

The carrier explained that it has previously suspended its own flights to certain destinations, including Enugu and Calabar, strictly to accommodate mandatory aircraft maintenance and logistics management.

The airline noted that wider sector dynamics such as fleet availability, aviation fuel supply logistics, airport infrastructure capacity, and regulatory scheduling frequently shape flight patterns across Nigerian airports without indicating anti-competitive behavior.

Reaffirming its commitment to market diversity, Ibom Air stated that a competitive aviation ecosystem directly benefits travelers by unlocking diverse schedules, varied fare structures, improved regional connectivity for the South-South geopolitical zone, and stronger local economic activity.

While taking pride in its position as the home-based carrier at Victor Attah International Airport, the airline reiterated that its status does not grant it ownership of the facility or the prerogative to determine which competitors enter the market.