Consumer Rights: FCCPC summons Air Peace over non-refund of travellers’ ticket fares

*The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has summoned the Management of Air Peace Limited, owners of Air Peace airline, over what the market regulatory Commission described as ‘a deluge of consumer complaints’ from across the country, regarding non-refund of ticket fares

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has summoned the Management of Air Peace Limited, owners of Air Peace airline, over what the market regulatory Commission described as “a deluge of consumer complaints” from across the country, regarding non-refund of ticket fares, even in instances where the airline had cancelled its flight operations.

Mr. Ondaje Ijagwu, Director of Corporate Affairs at FCCPC, in a statement Monday, June 16, 2025, said the indigenous airline’s actions potentially contravene Sections 130(1)(a) and (b), and 130(2)(b) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.

The Commission stated the relevant provisions contained in the FCCPA 2018 expressly “guarantee consumers the right to timely refunds where advance bookings, reservations, or orders are unfulfilled due to service-provider’s failure.”

The Director of Corporate Affairs also noted: “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 further explained that specifically, Section 33(3) of the FCCPA mandates compliance and failure attracts severe sanctions including fines or imprisonment.

The Commission said Air Peace is further directed to produce documentary evidence including complaint log for refunds over the past twelve (12) months, total records of processed refunds to date, 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 is recalled the FCCPC, December 2024, had commenced inquiries into separate allegations of exploitative ticket pricing, including substantial price hikes for advance bookings on certain domestic routes by Air Peace.

The FCCPC said in response, the airline instituted legal proceedings seeking to restrain the Commission from continuing its inquiry.

This is an entirely different matter, stated the Commission.

Ijagwu added: “The FCCPC remains committed to enforcing the provisions of the FCCPA (2018) and holding service providers accountable and ensuring that consumers, including airline passengers, are protected from exploitative or unfair market practices.”