Flight Cancellations, Unpaid Refunds: FCCPC Summons Air Peace

THE Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has summoned the management of Air Peace Limited, following multiple complaints from passengers regarding flight cancellations and non-refunded ticket fares, even in cases where the airline cancelled scheduled flights.
In a formal notice dated June 3, the Commission ordered Air Peace to appear at its Abuja headquarters on Monday, June 23, to address growing public outcry and allegations of consumer rights violations.
A statement issued by its Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, who disclosed the directive on Monday, June 16, in Abuja, said the airline’s alleged actions contravened Sections 130(1)(a) and (b), and 130(2)(b) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018, which guarantee consumers the right to prompt refunds when bookings or reservations are not honoured due to a service provider’s failure.
He stated that the summon was issued pursuant to Sections 32 and 33 of the Act, requiring Air Peace to provide specific documentary evidence, including a complaint log of refund-related issues over the past 12 months, records of all processed refunds to date, a list of all cancelled flights on all routes within the same period and measures taken to alleviate hardship caused to affected passengers.
According to the statement: “The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has summoned the management of Air Peace Limited over a deluge of consumer complaints from across the country relating to the non-refund of ticket fares, even in instances where the airline had cancelled its flight operations.
“These actions potentially contravene Sections 130(1)(a) and (b), and 130(2)(b) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018, which expressly guarantee consumers the right to timely refunds where advance bookings, reservations, or orders are unfulfilled due to a service provider’s failure.
“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 2018, requires Air Peace to appear before the Commission at its Abuja Headquarters on Monday, June 23, 2025.
“Specifically, Section 33(3) of the FCCPA mandates compliance, and failure attracts severe sanctions, including fines or imprisonment.”
Although the summon was issued long before the rift between Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Air Peace officials over alleged extortion of Nigerian passengers, it is curious that it was made public following the recent incident at the Lagos airport.