Air Peace to start flights again in Uyo

Air Peace is set to restart flights at Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on 23 October. This will give passengers more choices after complaints about high airfares and few flight options on the route.

Uwem Ekanem, the special adviser to the Akwa Ibom State Governor on aviation and airport development, shared this news on Monday during a ministerial briefing by the state government.

He said Air Peace’s return would boost passenger numbers and provide more options for travellers, especially those who don’t want to fly early in the morning.

"You know we currently have early bird flights and evening flights," he said, referring to Ibom Air’s schedule.

"But we need options for those who do not want to leave so early in the day. I believe Air Peace will provide some of those services when they start flying again."

This planned return comes after public complaints about the cost of air travel to and from Uyo. Passengers have shared their frustrations about high ticket prices and a lack of alternatives.

In August, PREMIUM TIMES reported that a passenger, George Essien, paid ₦227,000 for a Lagos-Uyo ticket after struggling to get a seat for three days.

Ibom Air said its high fares were due to strong passenger demand and limited flight capacity, noting that its Uyo flights operated at full capacity, between 95 and 100 percent.

The airline explained that it sold tickets in different fare categories, with the cheapest seats gone as bookings increased. It added that aircraft maintenance had cut the number of daily flights from Lagos-Uyo and Abuja-Uyo from three to two.

Ibom Air also said it expected more aircraft to increase the number of lower-priced tickets available.

Punch newspaper reported that Air Peace had announced it would cancel flights to some cities, including Uyo, in January 2025.

Air Peace’s return could provide another option for passengers, but the impact on fares will depend on how often flights are scheduled, the number of seats available, and ticket prices.

Mr Ekanem dismissed claims that Ibom Air had a monopoly at the airport. He said it was just one of the airlines operating there.

"I hope this clears up the idea that Ibom Air has a monopoly. No. Ibom Air is just one operator," he said.

He described Ibom Air as the state’s main airline and a local operator. Still, he emphasized the need to attract more airlines to keep the airport running.

"We aim to maximize our revenue. The more airlines we have, the better options for our passengers and more income," Mr Ekanem said.

"My job is to ensure we run our operations safely and efficiently."

The official did not share details about how often Air Peace plans to fly or which destinations it will serve from Uyo.