Air Peace Faces FCCPC Scrutiny Amidst Ticket Pricing Controversy

Abuja, Nigeria – The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has strongly rebuked Air Peace, accusing the airline of employing “ploys calculated to obfuscate issues and distract” from an ongoing investigation into alleged exploitative ticket pricing and other consumer rights violations.

The Commission’s statement, released Sunday by Director of Corporate Affairs Ondaje Ijagwu, follows a series of public pronouncements and a press conference by Air Peace that the FCCPC deems misleading and obstructive.

The investigation stems from numerous passenger complaints regarding unjustified fare increases, particularly on advance bookings for domestic routes, lack of transparency in pricing, and alleged anti-competitive practices.

The FCCPC initiated an inquiry following a surge in petitions detailing these concerns. While initially conducted in camera as a gesture of goodwill, a subsequent media report – attributed to unnamed sources – claimed Air Peace was not under investigation, prompting the FCCPC to reiterate that the inquiry remains active.

Air Peace’s subsequent press conference, held in Lagos, further angered the Commission. The airline reportedly claimed only the aviation regulatory agency could investigate its operations, a position the FCCPC strongly refutes, citing its mandate under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 to protect consumer rights.

The FCCPC highlighted several sections of the FCCPA which grant the Commission the authority to investigate pricing practices, ensuring they are fair and non-exploitative.

Adding fuel to the fire, Air Peace suggested a fare of N500,000 to N700,000 for a one-hour domestic flight, justifying this with claims of N7 million in fuel costs per flight.

The FCCPC challenged this figure, citing consumer petitions that contest the airline’s fuel consumption calculations and suggest a significantly lower cost.

The Commission pointed out that a competing airline recently reduced fares to N80,000 for similar routes, demonstrating that affordability and operational sustainability can coexist.

Further allegations against Air Peace include arbitrarily cancelling flights without compensation, causing significant passenger disruptions, as evidenced by a recent incident at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport where irate passengers caused a disturbance following a lengthy flight delay.

Passengers also reported being forced to pay a 50% surcharge when rebooking flights after cancellations.

The FCCPC emphasized that it will not be deterred by Air Peace’s actions and will continue its thorough investigation, promising to take appropriate action based on its findings under the FCCPA.

The Commission reiterated its commitment to safeguarding consumer rights and promoting fair competition within the Nigerian aviation sector.