The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has issued a formal summons to the management of Air Peace Limited following numerous complaints from passengers regarding the airline’s alleged failure to refund ticket fares after cancelling flights.
In a statement released on Monday, June 16, 2025, the Commission directed Air Peace to appear before it at its headquarters in Abuja on Monday, June 23, 2025.
The summons, dated June 13, 2025, was issued in response to rising public outcry over suspected violations of consumer rights.
According to the Director of Corporate Affairs at the Commission, Ondaje Ijagwu, the airline’s actions may be in breach of Sections 130(1)(a), 130(1)(b), and 130(2)(b) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.
These provisions guarantee consumers the right to a timely refund in cases where a service provider fails to deliver after a booking or reservation has been made.
“The FCCPC has summoned Air Peace Limited in response to a surge in complaints from consumers nationwide, especially concerning failure to refund ticket fares in cases where flights were cancelled by the airline,” the statement read.
More Read
Ijagwu added, “These actions, if proven, represent a direct violation of the law, which protects consumers from unfair and unjust practices. The law is clear that where services are paid for in advance but not rendered, consumers are entitled to refunds without unnecessary delay.”
The Commission, invoking Sections 32 and 33 of the FCCPA, requested that Air Peace submit detailed documentation on or before its appearance date.
The requested documents include a log of refund-related complaints within the last 12 months, records of all successfully processed refunds, a comprehensive list of all cancelled flights across routes within the same period, and any steps taken by the airline to mitigate the impact of cancellations on passengers.
“Section 33(3) of the Act makes compliance with the Commission’s directives compulsory, and failure to comply could attract serious sanctions including fines and possible imprisonment,” Ijagwu warned.
Although the FCCPC statement did not reference it directly, the summons comes shortly after a public altercation involving Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who accused Air Peace of exploiting passengers through what he described as “racketeering.”
Oshiomhole had alleged that after missing a scheduled flight, along with 20 to 30 other passengers, the airline demanded an additional N109,100 to rebook them on a later flight. The senator claimed he arrived at the airport on time but was denied boarding, while other passengers who arrived later were allowed on the flight.
In response, Air Peace insisted that Oshiomhole arrived late, but the matter drew attention to wider complaints about the airline’s refund and rescheduling policies.
As pressure mounts on Air Peace, the FCCPC has reiterated its commitment to upholding consumer protection standards across all sectors. “This summons underscores the Commission’s resolve to ensure accountability and fairness in the aviation industry,” Ijagwu stated.