The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has summoned the management of Air Peace Limited following a series of consumer complaints from across the country regarding the non-refund of ticket fares.
In a statement issued by the Director of Corporate Affairs at the FCCPC, Ondaje Ijagwu, on Monday, he noted that the airline’s failure to provide refunds also occurs in instances where it has cancelled its flight operations.
“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,” the statement reads in part.
Ijagwu said that Section 33(3) of the FCCPA mandates compliance of the aforementioned, and failure to do so attracts severe sanctions, including fines or imprisonment.
The Commission directed the airline to produce documentary evidence, including a complaint log for refunds over the past twelve (12) months, total records of processed refunds to date, a list of cancelled flights on all routes within the past twelve (12) months, and remedial actions taken to mitigate consumer hardship resulting from cancelled flights.
It recalled that it had commenced inquires in December 2024 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,” Ijagwu affirmed.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to enforcing the provisions of the FCCPA (2018), holding service providers accountable, and ensuring that consumers, including airline passengers, are protected from exploitative or unfair market practices.
