By Stanley Onyeka, Lagos
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), has summoned the management of Air Peace Limited over what it described as “a deluge of consumer complaints” from across the country.
It said the complaints relate “to the non-refund of ticket fares, even in instances where the airline had cancelled its flight operations.”
The Commission also declared that these actions potentially contravene Sections 130(1)(a) and (b), and 130(2)(b) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.
It further maintained that the law “expressly guarantees 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.”
A statement by the Director, Corporate Affairs, FCCPC, Ondaje Ijagwu, revealed that a formal summons dated June 13, 2025, requires Air Peace to appear before the Commission at its Abuja Headquarters on Monday, June 23, 2025.
The Commission also noted that Section 33(3) of the FCCPA mandates compliance, warning that “failure attracts severe sanctions including fines or imprisonment.”
During the appearance, the airline is further directed to produce documentary evidence, including:
- complaint log for refunds over the past 12 months;
- total records of processed refunds to date;
- list of cancelled flights on all routes within the past 12 months;
- and remedial actions taken to mitigate consumer hardship resulting from cancelled flights.
The FCCPC recalled that it had earlier in December 2024, commenced inquiries into separate allegations of exploitative ticket pricing, including substantial price hikes for advance bookings on certain domestic routes by Air Peace.
However, it said the airline countered the move by instituting legal proceedings seeking to restrain the Commission from continuing its inquiry.
The law expressly guarantees consumers the right to timely refunds where advance bookings, reservations, or orders are unfulfilled due to service-provider’s failure.
