Ibom Air reacts to alleged monopoly at Akwa Ibom airport

Ibom Air has rejected claims that it operates a monopoly at Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo, but its response did not settle passengers’ complaints about expensive tickets.

Anietie Essienette, the airline’s spokesperson, said Ibom Air had “no authority, mandate or regulatory power” to stop another carrier from flying from Uyo or any other Nigerian airport. Those decisions, the airline said, belong to aviation regulators, particularly the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority.

The dispute gained attention after passenger George Essien said he paid 227,000 naira for a Lagos-Uyo flight after failing to find a seat for three days. He said he remained in Lagos for three additional days after completing a training programme. Road travel was available, he said, but its risks, stress and exhaustion made flying preferable.

Ibom Air said it had temporarily suspended routes including Enugu and Calabar because of routine maintenance and other operational requirements, not to create or preserve a monopoly. It cited aircraft availability, fuel logistics, airport infrastructure, scheduling and regulatory requirements as factors that can affect flight frequency.

The airline did not directly address complaints about fares. Other Facebook users called for more passenger choice, while Mfon Enyina warned that the carrier could lose customer loyalty if passengers continued to view its prices as excessive. Destiny Nnanah argued that an airport’s success should also be judged by the number of airlines, passenger traffic and economic activity, comparing Uyo with Enugu Airport, where several carriers operate.

“

no authority, mandate or regulatory power