Ibom Air has rejected suggestions that its position as the home-based carrier at Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, gives it the power to determine which airlines operate from the airport, stressing that such authority rests with the relevant aviation regulators.
The airline said it neither controls access to the airport nor possesses the regulatory mandate to prevent another carrier from operating from Uyo or any other airport in Nigeria.
Its clarification followed public commentary linking Ibom Air’s dominant presence at the Uyo airport with the limited presence of competing airlines on some routes.
According to the carrier, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), rather than individual airlines, is responsible for regulating civil aviation operations in the country.
Ibom Air cited Section 8(3) of the Civil Aviation Act 2022, which, it said, places responsibility for the regulation of civil aviation in Nigeria with the NCAA.
The airline therefore maintained that any carrier that satisfies the applicable regulatory and operational requirements and secures the necessary approvals cannot be stopped from operating from Uyo by Ibom Air.
The carrier also sought to draw a distinction between its own operational decisions and any attempt to restrict competition.
It explained that it had, at various times, temporarily suspended services to destinations including Enugu and Calabar to accommodate mandatory aircraft maintenance and other operational requirements.
Such decisions, it said, were purely internal operational matters and should not be interpreted as an attempt to create or sustain a monopoly at Victor Attah International Airport.
Ibom Air further noted that several factors could influence the number and frequency of flights operating from an airport, including aircraft availability, fuel logistics, airport infrastructure, scheduling and regulatory requirements.
It said these factors could affect airline operations without necessarily implying that one carrier was controlling access to the airport.
Reaffirming its position on competition, Ibom Air said it welcomed the entry and operations of other airlines at Uyo, arguing that a competitive aviation environment would ultimately benefit passengers and the regional economy.
The airline said increased airline presence could provide travellers with more options, wider choices of schedules and fares, improved connectivity for Akwa Ibom and the wider South-South region, increased passenger traffic and a stronger aviation ecosystem.
“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, nor does it give Ibom Air the power to determine which other airlines may operate there”, the airline stated.
Ibom Air maintained that its role as the home-based carrier should therefore not be confused with regulatory control over Victor Attah International Airport or the Nigerian aviation industry.
The airline said it remained committed to serving passengers from Uyo while supporting an aviation environment in which other qualified carriers can operate subject to applicable regulatory and operational requirements.
For further clarification, the airline directed enquiries to its Media Relations Unit via mediarelations@ibomair.com.