Akwa Ibom State officials confirmed that Air Peace will restart its services at Victor Attah International Airport on October 23. Uwem Ekanem, the governor’s special adviser on aviation, revealed the schedule during a ministerial briefing on Monday. He explained that the new entry would boost passenger volume and offer alternatives to the early morning and evening slots currently dominated by the state-owned Ibom Air. Ekanem noted that travelers often dislike departing very early, a gap he believes the new carrier will fill.
The expansion follows widespread dissatisfaction with ticket prices on the Lagos-Uyo corridor. Premium Times previously highlighted a case where a traveler paid 227,000 naira for a seat after failing to book for three days. Ibom Air defended its pricing by citing high demand and limited aircraft availability. The state carrier explained that maintenance issues reduced its daily departures from three to two, keeping load factors between 95 and 100 percent. Consequently, cheaper fare tiers sold out quickly, forcing most passengers to purchase higher-priced tickets.
Ekanem also addressed perceptions that Ibom Air held a monopoly at the facility. He described the state airline as a flagship operator but emphasized the need for additional carriers to maximize revenue. According to the adviser, increasing the number of airlines would enhance service options and improve the airport’s financial health. However, specific details regarding Air Peace’s flight frequency or additional destinations remained unclear at the time of the announcement.
Financial records for the airport authority reveal mixed trends in recent years. Premium Times reported that fees collected by the Akwa Ibom Airport Development Company dropped to 469.4 million naira in 2025, down from 633.52 million naira the previous year. While staff costs remained nearly flat, overhead expenses decreased significantly. The Auditor-General’s report also noted that the company had not submitted its 2025 accounts, raising concerns about the transparency of its financial management and long-term sustainability.