Ibom Air explains high ticket prices for Uyo routes

Ibom Air, the airline owned by Akwa Ibom State, has clarified why ticket prices are high on Uyo routes. The airline says the fares are affected by strong passenger demand and lower flight capacity.

This explanation comes after people complained about the high fares and the limited flights to and from Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo.

In a statement on Facebook on Monday, Ibom Air said it uses a standard pricing system where tickets are sold in different fare classes. They start with the lowest fares available.

The airline explained that once seats in the cheaper fare classes are sold, bookings move to higher fare categories. This causes ticket prices to rise as flights fill up or get closer to departure.

High capacity on Uyo flights

Ibom Air noted that flights to Uyo are currently operating at about 95 to 100 percent capacity. In contrast, flights on the recently resumed Calabar route are only at about 20 to 25 percent capacity.

Due to lower demand on the Calabar route, more seats in the cheaper fare classes are still available. Strong demand on the Uyo routes means that cheaper seats get sold out quickly. Passengers booking closer to the flight date often find only higher-priced options left.

The airline mentioned that it still makes a good number of lower-fare seats available on its Uyo routes.

Reduced flight frequency due to maintenance

Ibom Air also said some pressure on available seats is due to a temporary reduction in flight capacity. Scheduled maintenance checks on some aircraft have cut flights on the Lagos-Uyo and Abuja-Uyo routes from three daily to two.

They expect capacity to improve with the arrival of their third Airbus A220-300, registered 5N-CDC, and the return of other aircraft from maintenance starting in September.

This increase in capacity will allow them to offer more lower-fare seats.

Concerns about monopoly

This statement comes after passengers raised worries about ticket prices and the limited choice of other airlines at Victor Attah International Airport.

Ibom Air has denied claims that it controls access to the airport or stops other airlines from flying there. They said they do not have the authority to decide which airlines operate from Uyo. That responsibility belongs to aviation regulators.

The airline added that it welcomes competition. More airlines could give passengers more choices for schedules and fares.

Concerns were partly sparked by a passenger who reported paying N227,000 for a Lagos-Uyo ticket after struggling to get a seat for three days. Some passengers wondered if more competition could provide options when Ibom Air flights are fully booked or when cheaper tickets are gone.

Advice to book early

Ibom Air said its pricing is not random or unfair. It follows the regulatory requirements and oversight. They advise passengers looking for cheaper tickets to book early since fares can change based on availability.

The airline said it needs to balance low prices with the costs of keeping operations safe, reliable, and sustainable. They confirmed their commitment to increasing capacity, making travel more affordable, and providing safe and reliable air travel.