Ibom Air has dismissed claims that it exercises a monopoly over operations at Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo or prevents other airlines from operating from the facility.
The airline issued the clarification following reports suggesting that it holds a dominant market position on the Uyo–Abuja and Uyo–Lagos routes.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Ibom Air said it has no authority or regulatory power to stop another airline from operating from Uyo or any other airport in Nigeria.
According to the airline, decisions on whether an airline can operate, be regulated, suspended or granted approval fall under the responsibility of the appropriate aviation regulatory authorities.
Ibom Air cited Section 8(3) of the Civil Aviation Act 2022, maintaining that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority is solely responsible for regulating civil aviation in the country.
“Therefore, where an airline meets the applicable regulatory and operational requirements and receives the necessary approvals, another airline cannot simply be prevented from operating by Ibom Air,” the statement said.
The airline also addressed concerns over periods when it had suspended or adjusted some of its flight operations, insisting that such decisions should not be interpreted as attempts to create or maintain a monopoly.
“It is important to distinguish between an airline choosing to suspend or adjust its own operations and an airline preventing another carrier from operating.
“For example, Ibom Air has, at various times, temporarily suspended operations to destinations such as Enugu and Calabar to enable mandatory maintenance and other operational requirements on its aircraft.
“Such decisions are internal operational decisions and should not be interpreted as an attempt to create or maintain a monopoly.
“Similarly, operational constraints at an airport, including aircraft availability, fuel logistics, airport infrastructure, scheduling and regulatory requirements, can affect the number or frequency of flights without meaning that one airline is controlling access to the airport.”
Ibom Air said it welcomes competition, arguing that a healthy aviation market would ultimately benefit passengers.
The airline said increased competition at the Uyo airport could provide passengers with more travel options, greater flexibility in flight schedules and fares, and improved connectivity for Akwa Ibom and the wider South-South region.
It added that more airlines operating from the airport could also increase passenger traffic and contribute to a stronger aviation ecosystem and destination economy.
“Ibom Air welcomes competition. On the contrary, we believe a healthy, competitive aviation environment ultimately benefits passengers,” the company said.
The airline stressed that its position as Uyo’s home-based carrier does 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, nor does it give Ibom Air the power to determine which other airlines may operate there.”
Author
