FCCPC summons Air Peace over failure to refund ticket fares

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has summoned the management of Air Peace Limited following myriad of consumer complaints from across the country regarding non-refund of ticket fares.

The Director of Corporate Affairs of the Commission, Ondaje Ijagwu, in a statement in Abuja on Monday, indicated that the airline had failed to refund its customers even in instances where it cancelled its flight operations.

He said the airline’s actions potentially contravened Sections 130(1)(a) and (b), and 130(2)(b) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.

Ijagwu said the FCCPA guaranteed consumers the right to timely refunds where advance bookings, reservations, or orders were unfulfilled due to service-provider’s failure.

The director said the summon dated June 13, would require Air Peace to appear before the Commission’s headquarters.

”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 FCCPA 2018, requires Air Peace to appear before the Commission at its Abuja Headquarters on June 23.

”Specifically, Section 33(3) of the FCCPA mandates compliance and failure attracts severe sanctions including fines or imprisonment.

”The airline is further directed to produce documentary evidence including complaint log for refunds over the past twelve (12) months.

”Others are  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,” he said.

Ijagwu said the FCCPC had in 2024, commenced inquiries into separate allegations of exploitative ticket pricing, including substantial price hikes for advance bookings on certain domestic routes by Air Peace.

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

The director said the summon was a different matter from the inquiry. (NAN)