Air Peace Summoned by FCCPC Amid Mounting Complaints of Unrefunded Tickets and Flight Cancellations

 

Nigeria’s leading domestic carrier, Air Peace Limited, is facing a regulatory reckoning following an avalanche of passenger grievances over non-refunded fares in the wake of cancelled flights. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has issued a formal summons to the airline’s management, demanding a comprehensive explanation and supporting evidence related to its handling of ticket refunds and customer care.

The Commission, in a notice dated June 3, 2025, directed Air Peace executives to appear before it at its Abuja headquarters on Monday, June 23, 2025. This move follows an increasing wave of discontent voiced by travellers across the country who accuse the airline of unjust practices, particularly the failure to refund money when scheduled flights are not honoured.

According to a statement released by the FCCPC's Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the Commission is invoking critical consumer protection provisions under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) of 2018. Sections 130(1)(a) and (b), and 130(2)(b) of the Act explicitly affirm that consumers are entitled to timely refunds when service providers fail to deliver on advance bookings or reservations.

Air Peace is now mandated to submit a detailed complaint log that reflects all refund-related issues over the past twelve months. Additionally, the Commission is requesting full documentation on processed refunds, a comprehensive list of all cancelled flights on all domestic and international routes during the period, and any measures the airline may have implemented to address the resulting passenger inconvenience.

Legal authority for the summons is drawn from Sections 32 and 33 of the FCCPA. These provisions empower the Commission to demand relevant information and ensure corporate compliance. Failure to meet these demands, the FCCPC warns, could trigger stringent penalties, including substantial fines and potential imprisonment of responsible officers.

Ijagwu emphasized that the Commission is taking the matter seriously, as the pattern of complaints against the airline suggests systemic disregard for consumer rights. “This investigation is not just about missed flights or frustrated travel plans,” the FCCPC noted. “It is about the principle of fair treatment. When a service is paid for and not delivered, the consumer is entitled to restitution. This is non-negotiable under Nigerian law.”

Although omitted from the official FCCPC statement, the summons comes at a particularly sensitive time for Air Peace. Just days earlier, a high-profile altercation involving Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Air Peace staff at a Nigerian airport drew national attention. The senator accused airline officials of extorting passengers, alleging that roughly 20 to 30 travellers, himself included, were barred from boarding despite timely arrival, unless they agreed to pay an additional N109,100 to be rescheduled for a later flight.

Oshiomhole’s claims extended beyond personal grievance. He asserted that several other passengers witnessed what he described as “racketeering” by airline employees, who allegedly prioritized late-arriving travellers that paid extra fees while others were left stranded. Air Peace, however, denied the allegations, stating that the senator missed his flight due to a late check-in and that no extortion took place.

The controversy has amplified public scrutiny of Air Peace’s operational practices, with consumer advocacy groups now calling for deeper investigations into the airline's refund and booking policies. On social media, Nigerians have been sharing personal experiences of cancelled flights and stalled refund processes, further intensifying public outcry.

This is not the first time a Nigerian airline has come under fire for customer service lapses, but the scale of complaints against Air Peace—and the prominence of the individuals involved—have made this episode particularly potent.

For the FCCPC, the outcome of this investigation could serve as a litmus test for how effectively it can enforce consumer protection laws within the aviation sector. For Air Peace, the stakes are even higher: reputational damage, possible regulatory sanctions, and a potential loss of consumer trust.

All eyes are now on June 23, when Air Peace is expected to respond to the Commission’s demands and demonstrate whether it has taken adequate steps to address consumer concerns. The outcome could have lasting implications, not just for Air Peace, but for the broader expectations of accountability in Nigeria’s air travel industry.