The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has invited the management of Air Peace Limited over complaints by consumers on non-refund of ticket fares when flights are cancelled.
The commission also directed the management of the airline to produce documentary evidence including complaint log for refunds of cancelled flights over the past 12 months.
This, according to the commission includes the total records of processed refunds to date, list of cancelled flights on all routes within the past one year and remedial actions taken to mitigate consumer hardship resulting from cancelled flights.
Specifically, Section 33(3) of the FCCPA mandates compliance and failure attracts severe sanctions including fines or imprisonment.
In a statement by Director, Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the commission has invited the management of Air Peace Limited over a deluge of consumer complaints from across the country relating to the non-refund of ticket fares, even in instances where the airline had cancelled its flights.
According to the statement, these actions potentially contravene Sections 130(1)(a) and (b), and 130(2)(b) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, which expressly guarantee consumers the right to timely refunds where advance bookings, reservations, or orders are unfulfilled due to service-provider’s failure.
“This provision enshrines the principle of fair dealing and safeguards consumers against unfair, unjust, or unreasonable practices by service-providers. In a formal summons dated June 13, 2025, the Commission, invoking Sections 32 and 33 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, requires Air Peace to appear before the Commission at its Abuja Headquarters on Monday, June 23, 2025”.
Earlier in December last year, the FCCPC had begun inquiries into separate allegations of exploitative ticket pricing, including substantial price hikes for advance bookings on certain domestic routes by Air Peace.
In response, the airline instituted legal proceedings seeking to restrain the Commission from continuing its inquiry.
This is an entirely different matter.
The FCCPC remains committed to enforcing the provisions of the FCCPA (2018) and holding service providers accountable by ensuring that consumers, including airline passengers, are protected from exploitative or unfair market practices.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.