Uyo Airport: Ibom Air Dismisses Monopoly Claims, Says It Has No Power to Restrict Other Airlines
Ibom Air has dismissed suggestions that it operates a monopoly at Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, or prevents other airlines from operating from the airport.
The airline said it has no authority, mandate or regulatory power to stop any airline from operating from Uyo or any other airport in Nigeria, in a statement issued on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, August 30.
The clarification followed public commentary suggesting that the Uyo-based carrier exercises a monopoly over operations at Victor Attah International Airport.
Ibom Air said the responsibility for authorising, regulating, suspending or permitting airline operations rests with the relevant aviation regulatory authorities.
It specifically cited Section 8(3) of the Civil Aviation Act 2022, which places the regulation of civil aviation in Nigeria under the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
“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”, it noted.
Ibom Air said public perception of a monopoly may have arisen from instances where it temporarily suspended or adjusted its own services to some destinations.
It explained that it had, at various times, suspended operations to destinations including Enugu and Calabar to accommodate mandatory aircraft maintenance and other operational requirements.
According to the airline, such decisions are internal operational matters and should not be interpreted as attempts to create or maintain a monopoly.
It also noted that factors such as aircraft availability, fuel logistics, airport infrastructure, flight scheduling and regulatory requirements could affect the number or frequency of flights at an airport.
Ibom Air stressed that such operational constraints did not mean that the airline controlled access to Victor Attah International Airport.
The airline said it welcomes competition, arguing that having more airlines operating from Uyo would ultimately benefit passengers and the regional economy.
It listed increased travel options, greater choice of schedules and fares, improved connectivity for Akwa Ibom and the wider South-South region, increased passenger traffic and a stronger aviation ecosystem among the potential benefits of increased competition.
While describing itself as the home-based carrier at Uyo, Ibom Air said this status did not confer ownership or control of the airport on it.
“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,” the airline said.
It urged members of the public to distinguish between an airline’s decision to adjust its own operations and any attempt to prevent another carrier from operating.
Ibom Air added that enquiries could be directed to its Media Relations Unit for further clarification.
