From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has summoned Air Peace Limited following mounting complaints from passengers over the airline’s alleged failure to refund fares for cancelled flights, in what the Commission described as a potential violation of consumer protection laws.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, the FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, said the Commission’s action stems from allegations that the airline had repeatedly failed to refund ticket fares for cancelled operations — actions that may contravene Sections 130(1)(a) and (b), and 130(2)(b) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.
These sections guarantee consumers the right to prompt refunds when a service provider fails to deliver a paid service, underscoring the principles of fairness and protection against exploitative practices.
Acting under Sections 32 and 33 of the FCCPA, the Commission issued a formal summons dated June 13, 2025, requiring the management of Air Peace to appear before it at its Abuja headquarters on Monday, June 23, 2025.
As part of the summons, the Commission also directed the airline to present critical documentary evidence.
These include a comprehensive log of consumer complaints specifically related to refunds over the past twelve months, a detailed list of all cancelled flights across its routes during the same period, records of refunds processed to date, and any remedial actions initiated by the airline to address the hardship caused to affected passengers.
The Commission warned that failure to comply with the summons would amount to a breach of Section 33(3) of the FCCPA, which carries sanctions ranging from monetary penalties to imprisonment.
This latest development comes months after the FCCPC began probing Air Peace over alleged exploitative pricing practices in December 2024, particularly a spike in fares for advance bookings on some domestic routes. Rather than comply, the airline reportedly filed a legal suit aimed at restraining the Commission from further inquiries.
Reaffirming its commitment to consumer welfare, the FCCPC stated, “The Commission remains steadfast in enforcing the FCCPA (2018), and will not hesitate to hold any service provider accountable to ensure airline passengers and all Nigerian consumers are shielded from unfair market practices.”
With this move, the FCCPC is expected to set a precedent in ensuring airline operators uphold ethical practices and protect consumer rights in Nigeria’s aviation sector.