The Management of Ibom Air has denied the public perception that it has been monopolizing operations and shutting out other airlines at the Victor Attah International Airport, in Akwa Ibom State.

According to a statement by the Group Manager, Marketing and Communications, Ms Aniekan Essienette, Ibom Air has no such authority or regulatory power to prevent other airlines from operating at the VAIA.

Essienette further said that Ibom Air is not averse to competition, as it welcomes a healthy competitive environment in the nation’s aviation sector.

The statement read, “Public commentary suggests that Ibom Air, as the home-based carrier in Uyo, exercises a monopoly over operations at Victor Attah International Airport or prevents other airlines from operating from the airport.”

It continued, “Ibom Air has no authority, mandate or regulatory power to prevent another airline from operating from Uyo, or from any other airport in Nigeria. The decision to authorize, regulate, suspend, or otherwise permit an airline’s operations rests with the appropriate aviation regulatory authorities.”

It added, “Under Section 8(3) of the Civil Aviation Act 2022, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is solely responsible for the regulation of civil aviation in Nigeria. Therefore, where an airline meets the applicable regulatory and operational requirements and receives the necessary approvals, another airline cannot simply be prevented from operating by Ibom Air.”

Essienette said it is important to distinguish between an airline choosing to suspend or adjust its own operations and an airline preventing another carrier from operating.

She said, “For example, Ibom Air has, at various times, temporarily suspended operations to destinations such as Enugu and Calabar to enable mandatory maintenance and other operational requirements on its aircraft.”

She added, “Such decisions are internal operational decisions and should not be interpreted as an attempt to create or maintain a monopoly.”

She said, “Similarly, operational constraints at an airport, including aircraft availability, fuel logistics, airport infrastructure, scheduling and regulatory requirements, can affect the number or frequency of flights without meaning that one airline is controlling access to the airport.”

She stated, “Ibom Air welcomes competition. On the contrary, we believe a healthy, competitive aviation environment ultimately benefits passengers.”