FCCPC Summons Air Peace Over Unrefunded Ticket Fares

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has summoned Air Peace Limited following a wave of complaints from passengers over the airline’s failure to refund ticket fares, including for cancelled flights. The announcement was made in a statement issued Monday by Ondaje Ijagwu, the Commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs.

According to the FCCPC, Air Peace’s conduct may breach several provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018—specifically Sections 130(1)(a), 130(1)(b), and 130(2)(b). These sections guarantee consumers the right to timely refunds when services paid for in advance are not delivered due to the service provider’s failure. The law prioritizes fair treatment and shields consumers from unjust or unreasonable practices.

A formal summons dated June 13, 2025, directed Air Peace to appear before the Commission at its Abuja headquarters on Monday, June 23, 2025. The summons was issued under the Commission’s authority as outlined in Sections 32 and 33 of the FCCPA. The FCCPC also referenced Section 33(3), which mandates compliance and outlines penalties for defiance, including potential fines or imprisonment.

The airline is required to present several documents during the hearing, including a complaint log of refund requests from the past 12 months, records of all processed refunds, a list of cancelled flights across all routes within the same period, and documentation on measures taken to mitigate the impact of cancelled flights on consumers.

This latest move by the Commission comes on the heels of an earlier investigation launched in December 2024 into alleged exploitative ticket pricing by Air Peace. That probe, which focused on significant fare hikes for advance bookings, led the airline to file a lawsuit aimed at halting the Commission’s inquiry.

Despite the ongoing legal battle, the FCCPC reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing consumer protection laws and ensuring air travelers are not subjected to exploitative or unfair practices in the market.