The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has reaffirmed its commitment to investigating allegations of exploitative pricing and consumer rights violations by Air Peace.
The inquiry follows an avalanche of complaints from passengers about alleged price gouging, arbitrary flight cancellations, and lack of compensation for inconveniences.
The FCCPC, in a detailed statement, condemned Air Peace’s recent “outbursts” as attempts to distract from the ongoing investigation.
The Commission also criticized media leaks that misrepresented proceedings from a closed-door meeting held on December 3 at its Abuja headquarters. The meeting was part of efforts to address consumer complaints, which include claims of unjustified fare hikes and poor service delivery.
Air Peace, however, has responded with a press conference in Lagos, accusing the FCCPC of overstepping its regulatory boundaries.
The airline argued that only the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has jurisdiction over its pricing policies, a claim the FCCPC refutes.
The Commission emphasized that under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, it is empowered to ensure fair and non-exploitative pricing across all sectors, including aviation.
The FCCPC highlighted inconsistencies in Air Peace’s pricing defense. At the press conference, the airline claimed it spends an average of ₦7 million to fuel an aircraft for a one-hour flight, suggesting an “ideal” ticket price of ₦500,000 to ₦700,000.
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However, the Commission noted that consumer petitions challenge these figures, arguing that such pricing could generate excessive profits given the operational costs of aircraft like the Boeing 737-500.
The situation has drawn attention from Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who described the FCCPC’s public statements on Air Peace as “careless.”
In an interview, Keyamo criticized the Commission for not consulting the NCAA, the primary aviation regulator, before going public.
He attributed challenges in the aviation sector to capacity limitations, forex fluctuations, and high operational costs tied to wet leasing of aircraft.
Keyamo further revealed plans to address these issues by leading a Nigerian delegation to Dublin in January to negotiate better aircraft financing terms.
He believes this initiative, supported by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, will enhance airline capacity and reduce ticket prices.
While acknowledging the industry’s challenges, the FCCPC insists that consumer rights remain paramount.
The Commission vowed to continue its investigation into Air Peace without succumbing to “blackmail or cowboy tactics.”
It reassured the public of its commitment to ensuring fairness, transparency, and competition in the aviation sector, in line with its mandate under the FCCPA.
