State Airport Investments Poised to Expand Nigeria's Air Travel Market

Investments by Akwa Ibom and Enugu states in developing their own airport hubs are poised to significantly expand Nigeria's air travel market, inject capital into the sector, and serve previously neglected destinations, according to aviation industry experts.

State-owned carriers, such as Ibom Air and the newly established Enugu Air, have injected billions of naira and crucial operational capacity into the Nigerian aviation industry. This has fundamentally reshaped regional connectivity and contributed to economic growth. Both states have also been instrumental in creating hundreds of jobs within the industry and have trained numerous technical personnel, including pilots, cabin crew, and engineers, in addition to ground staff.

Akwa Ibom has modernized its airport, now known as Victor Attah International Airport Uyo, which the federal government recently designated as international. Ibom Air, operating from this hub, is already providing regional services and is widely regarded as a promising carrier.

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What I have witnessed happening in other countries is that privately owned commercial airlines look at money, how to make profit and justify their investment, but during the time of Nigeria Airways, the airline operated to all the airports. This is the difference between a national carrier and private owned airlines. National carriers can invest in the development of new routes, which may not be profitable at the beginning.

Similarly, Enugu State established its own airline, Enugu Air, which secured its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) this year after affiliating with Xejet. The state is also developing the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, which has been concessioned to Aero Alliance and serves as Enugu Air's operational hub. Industry observers suggest these state-led efforts might redirect attention from the dominant triangular routes of Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, which are currently the most profitable domestic destinations.

Ambassador Ikechi Uko, a travel expert and organizer of the Akwaaba African Travel Market, noted that private investors often prioritize profit, leading them to focus on established, lucrative routes rather than developing new ones. He recalled the era of the defunct Nigeria Airways, which connected all parts of the country, including less profitable routes, highlighting the difference between national and private carriers. Uko believes the two states can develop currently underserved destinations, which may become profitable in the future, similar to how Ethiopia Airlines serves all airports within Ethiopia, investing in routes that may not be immediately profitable.

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For example, Ethiopia Airlines serve every airport in the country. The airline provides service to these airports but its