Air Peace is anticipated to renew flight operations at Victor Attah World Airport in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on 23 October. This construction will amplify passengers’ possible choices following court cases about prime airfares and restricted flight choices at the direction.
Uwem Ekanem, particular adviser to the Akwa Ibom State Governor on aviation and airport construction, announced the deliberate resumption on Monday all through the state executive’s ministerial briefing.
The professional stated Air Peace’s go back would build up passenger visitors and provides travellers extra choices, particularly those that don’t need to take early-morning flights.
“You might be smartly mindful that these days we now have early hen after which we fly within the night time,” the professional stated, regarding Ibom Air’s agenda.
“However we want that visitors for individuals who don’t need to leave so early within the day. I’m certain the ones are one of the most products and services Air Peace will be offering once they start operations.”
The deliberate go back follows public grievance of the price of air shuttle to and from Uyo, the place passengers have complained about pricey tickets and restricted choices.
In August, PREMIUM TIMES reported public issues in regards to the prime price of tickets at the Uyo direction after a passenger, George Essien, stated he paid ₦227,000 for a Lagos-Uyo price tag after being not able to protected a seat for 3 days.
Ibom Air later attributed its prime fares to sturdy passenger call for and decreased flight capability, announcing its Uyo flights operated at load components of 95 to 100 in step with cent.
The airline defined that its tickets had been offered in several fare classes, with the most affordable seats turning into unavailable as bookings higher. It additionally stated airplane repairs had decreased the frequency of its Lagos-Uyo and Abuja-Uyo products and services from 3 day-to-day flights to 2.
Ibom Air stated it anticipated further airplane capability to make extra lower-priced tickets to be had.
Punch newspaper had reported that Air Peace had introduced the cancellation of flights to a couple towns, together with Uyo, in January 2025.
Air Peace’s go back may give passengers another provider, even though its impact on fares depends upon flight frequency, to be had seats, and pricing.
Govt rejects monopoly claims
Mr Ekanem disregarded ideas that Ibom Air had a monopoly on the airport, describing it as some of the operators the usage of the ability.
“I’m hoping this debunks the insinuation of a monopoly through Ibom Air. No. Ibom Air is only one operator,” the professional stated.
The professional described Ibom Air because the state’s flagship airline and a home-based operator however stated that the airport will have to draw in different carriers to maintain its operations.
“We’re within the trade of maximising our earnings. The extra carriers we now have, the extra choices for our passengers and extra money,” Mr Ekanem stated.
“My trade is to make sure that I maintain our operations in a secure and environment friendly approach.”
The professional didn’t supply main points of Air Peace’s proposed flight frequency or the locations it might serve from Uyo.
Airport funds
In the meantime, Akwa Ibom State’s 2025 audited financial statements display adjustments within the earnings and expenditure figures of the airport.
The statements display that charges paid to the Akwa Ibom Airport Building Corporate fell to ₦469.4 million in 2025 from ₦633.52 million in 2024.
Income from fines additionally declined, from ₦127,000 in 2024 to ₦100,000 in 2025, whilst gross sales higher from ₦9.1 million to ₦10 million.
Profits rose to ₦7 million in 2025 from ₦1.1 million within the previous 12 months. Income from hire recorded a considerable build up, emerging to ₦37 million from ₦4.95 million.
Group of workers salaries stood at ₦948.96 million in 2025, when put next with ₦956.03 million in 2024.
The airport’s overhead expenditure declined to ₦752.97 million from ₦1.14 billion over the similar duration.
The figures counsel a discount in some running prices and an build up in decided on earnings streams, even though the to be had figures by myself don’t display whether or not the airport become extra winning or extra financially sustainable.
A overview of the 2025 Auditor-Common’s file additionally signifies that the Akwa Ibom Airport Building Corporate used to be flagged over the non-submission of its 2025 monetary statements.
The failure to post the statements raises questions in regards to the corporate’s monetary reporting and the level to which its efficiency may also be independently assessed.
The deliberate go back of Air Peace comes at a time when the state-owned airport faces two comparable demanding situations: increasing airline choices for passengers and demonstrating clear, sustainable control of the ability.
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