By Nkechi Eze
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has summoned the management of Air Peace Limited following a wave of consumer complaints over the airline’s alleged failure to refund fares for cancelled flights across the country.
According to an official statement issued by the Commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the complaints indicate a potential violation of consumer rights as guaranteed under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018. Specifically, Sections 130(1)(a), 130(1)(b), and 130(2)(b) of the Act provide for full and timely refunds to customers in instances where services, including booked flights, are not delivered.
The Commission stated that these provisions underscore the fundamental principles of fair dealing in the marketplace and protect consumers from what it described as “unjust, unfair, or unreasonable practices” by service providers.
In a formal summons dated June 13, 2025, the FCCPC invoked its enforcement powers under Sections 32 and 33 of the FCCPA to compel Air Peace to appear at its Abuja headquarters on Monday, June 23, 2025. Section 33(3) of the Act mandates full compliance with the summons and prescribes stiff penalties—including fines or imprisonment—for failure to comply.
As part of its investigation, the FCCPC has directed Air Peace to submit key documents, including its complaint log for refund-related issues over the past year, records of all processed refunds to date, a full list of cancelled flights across all routes within the last 12 months, and evidence of steps taken to cushion the impact of these cancellations on affected consumers.
This latest regulatory action follows an earlier inquiry initiated by the Commission in December 2024 into separate allegations of exploitative ticket pricing, particularly concerning significant fare increases for advance bookings on select domestic routes. In that case, Air Peace responded by filing a legal suit against the FCCPC, seeking to halt the inquiry. However, the Commission has clarified that the current summons relates to a distinct matter.
The FCCPC reiterated its commitment to upholding consumer protection standards and ensuring accountability among service providers, including operators in the aviation sector. It reaffirmed that Nigerian consumers have the right to fair treatment and full value for their money.
“The Commission will continue to exercise its statutory mandate to safeguard consumers from exploitative market conduct and to ensure all service providers adhere strictly to the provisions of the FCCPA,” the statement read.
