Like Other Airlines, Ibom Air Backs Down
Information reaching Ibom Focus says that Ibom Air Backs Down From Planned Strike
In what appears like a crack among airline operators, one of the domestic airlines, Ibom Air, has distanced itself from the plan to shut down operation on Monday, saying it will continue normal operations.
The airline had been included by the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) in its joint statement announcing flight cessation on Monday over increasing cost of Jet A1.
In a statement, Ibom Air said it had been inundated with inquiries over the plan to ground the aviation sector.
The statement said though Ibom Air acknowledged the existential threat that runaway fuel price increases pose for the air transport industry in Nigeria, every airline has its unique business model and pressures.
“We believe that in spite of the escalating fuel prices, airlines volunteering to stop operations would rather exacerbate an already bad situation.”
“Ibom Air has financial obligations to suppliers, financiers and staff, which depend on uninterrupted flow of revenue to service. More importantly is the fact that having been paid by customers in advance for flight bookings we are bound by contract to deliver the services already paid for, to avoid exposing the airline to the risk of avoidable litigation.
“Apart from the above factors, Ibom Air is currently the only airline serving Akwa Ibom State directly and as such, any voluntary stoppage of operations would completely cut off access by air into and out of the State. Such action would be directly in conflict with and detrimental to the interest of our shareholder.
“In view of the foregoing facts, Ibom Air had respectfully disagreed with the decision of AON to suspend flight operations on Monday 09 May 2022. Ibom Air cannot in the circumstance volunteer to stop operating and will continue normal operations on Monday 09 May 2022 and beyond. Ibom Air’s inclusion as “signatory” to the statement released by AON must have derived from its active and committed membership of the AON.
“The above notwithstanding, we identify very strongly with our AON colleagues and will participate in every effort to resolve this frightening situation as soon as possible in the interest of our business, our customers, our stakeholders and our country.”
The airline, however, thanked the AON “for our collective efforts to secure a sustainable fuel pricing regime for the airlines.”
Ibom Air Backs Down
