Ibom Air, the airline owned by Akwa Ibom State, has denied claims that it controls access to Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo or stops other airlines from operating there.
The airline’s spokesperson, Anietie Essienette, made this known in a statement on Facebook on Sunday.
While the statement addressed the monopoly claims, it did not directly reply to a major issue raised by some passengers. They wanted to know if the lack of other airlines makes ticket prices high on the Uyo route.
The discussion heated up after passenger George Essien posted on Facebook. He shared that he paid N227,000 for a flight from Lagos to Uyo after he couldn’t get a seat for three days.
In the statement, Ibom Air said it had "no authority, mandate or regulatory power" to stop any airline from flying out of Uyo or any airport in Nigeria.
The airline explained that such decisions are up to aviation regulators, especially the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Ibom Air added that it has temporarily stopped some routes, like Enugu and Calabar, before due to routine maintenance and other operational needs, not to create a monopoly.
They mentioned that factors like aircraft availability, fuel logistics, airport infrastructure, schedules, and regulations can affect how often flights happen.
Still, the airline did not specifically answer the complaints about high ticket prices.
The passenger whose complaint got many talking said he had to stay in Lagos for three extra days after a training program because there were no seats on Ibom Air flights.
He said he could travel by road, but the risks, stress, and exhaustion from long trips made flying a better option.
He then asked why other airlines could not fly from Victor Attah International Airport to give passengers more choices.
Some residents shared similar worries on Facebook.
Mr Essien and other users criticized Ibom Air for its fares. They urged the airline to focus more on what passengers want.
Mfon Enyina pointed out that Ibom Air could lose customer loyalty if people see its fares as too high. Another user suggested that more competition might push the airline to do better.
In a separate Facebook post on June 28, Destiny Nnanah said an airport's success should be judged not just by its structure but also by how many airlines operate there, the number of passengers, and economic activity.
Ms Nnanah compared Victor Attah International Airport with Enugu Airport, noting that several airlines operate there and give passengers more options.
She said allowing more airlines to operate from Uyo could boost passenger traffic, create jobs, support tourism, and stimulate economic activity.
In response to these concerns, Ibom Air said it welcomes competition and believes that having more airlines will benefit passengers.
The airline stated that more airlines flying from Uyo could offer travelers more flight options, better schedules and fares, improved connectivity, and increased passenger movement.
Ibom Air emphasized that being the home-based airline does not mean it owns or controls Victor Attah International Airport.
"As the home-based carrier, Ibom Air is proud to operate from Uyo, but being the home-based carrier does not confer ownership or control of the airport," it said.
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