Ibom Air, the Akwa Ibom State-owned airline, has denied allegations that it controls access to Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, or prevents other airlines from operating from the airport.
The airline’s spokesperson, Anietie Essienette, stated this in a statement posted on Facebook on Sunday.
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But while the airline’s statement addressed its alleged monopoly over the airport, it did not directly address a key concern raised by some passengers: whether the limited availability of alternative carriers contributes to the high fares they pay on the Uyo route.
The debate was renewed after a passenger, George Essien, in a post on Facebook, complained about paying N227,000 for a flight from Lagos to Uyo after being unable to secure a seat for three days.
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In the statement, Ibom Air said it had “no authority, mandate or regulatory power” to prevent another airline from operating from Uyo or any other Nigerian airport.
The airline said such decisions rested with aviation regulators, particularly the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Ibom Air also said it temporary suspended some of its routes, including Enugu and Calabar, in the past as a resulted of routine maintenance and other operational requirements, and not because of any attempt to create or maintain a monopoly.
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It said factors including aircraft availability, fuel logistics, airport infrastructure, scheduling and regulatory requirements could affect flight frequency.
However, the airline did not specifically respond to complaints about the high cost of its tickets.
Passengers demand alternatives
The passenger whose complaint prompted several people to call out Ibom Air said the absence of seats on Ibom Air flights forced him to remain in Lagos for three additional days after completing a training programme.
He said travelling by road was an alternative, but argued that the risks, stress and exhaustion associated with long-distance road travel made flying preferable.
He subsequently questioned why other airlines could not operate from Victor Attah International Airport to provide passengers with choices.
Similar concerns have been expressed by some residents on Facebook.
Mr Essien and other Facebook users criticised Ibom Air over its fares and urged the airline to prioritise passenger interests.
Mfon Enyina argued that the airline could lose customer loyalty if passengers continued to perceive its fares as excessively high. At the same time, another suggested that increased competition could put pressure on the carrier to improve its offering.
In a separate Facebook post on 28 June, Destiny Nnanah argued that an airport’s success should be measured not only by its infrastructure but also by the number of airlines operating there, passenger traffic and economic activity.
Ms Nnanah compared Victor Attah International Airport with Enugu Airport, where she observed several airlines operating flights and giving passengers multiple choices.
She argued that allowing more airlines to operate from Uyo could increase passenger traffic, create jobs, support tourism and stimulate economic activity.
Ibom Air welcomes competition
Reacting to the concerns, Ibom Air said it welcomed competition and believed a competitive aviation environment would benefit passengers.
It said more airlines operating from Uyo could provide travellers with more flight options, greater choice of schedules and fares, improved connectivity and increased passenger traffic.
The airline stressed that its status as the home-based carrier did not give it ownership or control of Victor Attah International Airport.
“As the home-based carrier, Ibom Air is proud to operate from Uyo, but being the home-based carrier does not confer ownership or control of the airport,” it said.
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