Air Peace faces FCCPC probe over unpaid refunds
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has called upon the management of Air Peace Limited after receiving numerous complaints from passengers nationwide regarding unrefunded ticket fares, including cases where the airline itself cancelled flights.
This information was shared in a statement on Monday by the Commission’s Director of Public Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu.
The statement highlighted that the alleged inability to issue refunds could breach Sections 130(1)(a), 130(1)(b), and 130(2)(b) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, which guarantees consumers the right to timely refunds when services paid for in advance are not provided.
In an official summons dated June 13, 2025, the FCCPC directed Air Peace to appear at its Abuja headquarters on Monday, June 23.
The Commission cited Sections 32 and 33 of the FCCPA, cautioning that failure to comply could result in penalties, including fines or imprisonment, as specified in Section 33(3).
“The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has summoned the management of Air Peace Limited due to a surge of consumer complaints from various parts of the country regarding the non-refund of ticket fares, even in cases where the airline cancelled its flights,” part of the statement read.
The FCCPC has additionally requested the airline to submit documentation including a record of refund-related complaints from the past twelve months, proof of refunds issued, a list of all flights cancelled during that period, and details on measures taken to resolve passenger issues.
Section 130 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 grants consumers the entitlement to receive fair and prompt refunds when a service provider, such as an airline, fails to fulfill a prepaid service.
The law explicitly states that if a business commits to providing a service but does not meet the expected standards or complete the service—such as in situations involving a cancelled flight—the consumer has the right to a refund commensurate with the failure.
Moreover, Part 19 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Regulations 2023 outlines passenger rights and airline responsibilities, with Section 19.9 confirming that passengers must receive reimbursement or alternatives for re-routing when a flight is cancelled.
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