The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has issued a formal summons to the management of Air Peace Limited following a wave of consumer complaints over the airline’s alleged failure to refund ticket fares, even in cases where it had cancelled flight operations.

The Commission stated that the complaints, received from passengers across the country, raise serious concerns under Sections 130(1)(a) and (b), and 130(2)(b) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018. These provisions guarantee consumers the right to timely refunds when service providers fail to deliver on pre-booked services, such as flight reservations.

In a letter dated June 13, 2025, the FCCPC invoked Sections 32 and 33 of the FCCPA to compel Air Peace to appear before the Commission at its headquarters in Abuja on Monday, June 23, 2025. The Commission emphasized that non-compliance, as stipulated under Section 33(3), could result in penalties, including fines or imprisonment.

Air Peace has also been directed to present several key documents, including: A comprehensive complaint log for refund requests over the past 12 months, Detailed records of all processed refunds; A list of all cancelled flights on its network within the same period; Evidence of any remedial measures taken to alleviate the impact on affected passengers.

This latest action comes months after a separate investigation initiated in December 2024 into allegations of exploitative ticket pricing and significant fare hikes on domestic routes. In that instance, Air Peace had filed a legal suit seeking to halt the Commission’s inquiry.

However, the FCCPC clarified that the current summons pertains to an entirely different matter and reaffirmed its commitment to consumer protection.

“The Commission remains resolute in enforcing the FCCPA and holding service providers accountable for any acts that may undermine consumer rights or promote unfair market practices,” said Ondaje Ijagwu, Director of Corporate Affairs at the FCCPC.

The Commission reiterated that airline passengers, like all consumers, are entitled to fair treatment, timely redress, and protection from unjust business practices.