FCCPC Summons Air Peace Over Alleged Non-Refund of Cancelled Flight Tickets

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has summoned the management of Air Peace following widespread complaints about the airline’s failure to refund ticket fares for cancelled flights.

In a statement issued by the Commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the FCCPC noted that such actions may violate Sections 130(1)(a), 130(1)(b), and 130(2)(b) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018. These sections protect consumers’ rights to prompt refunds when services paid for in advance are not delivered due to the provider’s fault.

“The Commission has received numerous complaints from passengers across the country regarding Air Peace’s refusal to refund fares, even in cases where the airline cancelled its flight operations,” the statement read.

In a formal summons dated June 13, 2025, the FCCPC directed Air Peace to appear before the Commission at its Abuja headquarters on Monday, June 23, 2025. The summons was issued under Sections 32 and 33 of the FCCPA, with Section 33(3) specifically warning that non-compliance could attract stiff penalties, including fines or imprisonment.

Air Peace is also required to submit a range of documents, including:

• A log of refund-related complaints over the past 12 months
• Records of all refunds processed within that period
• A list of all cancelled flights across its routes in the last year
• Evidence of remedial actions taken to ease the burden on affected passengers

The FCCPC emphasized that this investigation is separate from the ongoing inquiry into alleged exploitative ticket pricing by the airline. That matter, which surfaced in December 2024, led Air Peace to file a legal challenge aimed at halting the Commission’s probe.

Despite the ongoing legal dispute, the FCCPC reiterated its commitment to protecting Nigerian consumers from exploitative and unfair market practices, and ensuring that service providers—including airlines—are held accountable under the law.