Kehinde Fajobi
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has declared that no amount of blackmail will halt its investigation into Air Peace’s operations, following complaints of exploitative practices.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Ondaje Ijagwu, FCCPC’s director of corporate affairs, emphasised the commission’s commitment to enforcing consumer rights and addressing concerns raised by passengers.
“In a dramatic turn of events on Friday, Air Peace addressed a press conference in Lagos where it made several outlandish claims and innuendos obviously intended to whip up sentiments but conveniently avoided addressing the real issues,” Ijagwu said.
He criticised Air Peace’s assertion that only the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had the authority to investigate its affairs, stating that the claim reflected a poor understanding of legal and moral obligations.
“Passengers are consumers of its services. Their rights are inalienable and guaranteed under the FCCPA. It is the basis of FCCPC’s intervention,” Ijagwu added.
The FCCPC’s investigation follows petitions accusing Air Peace of unjustified fare hikes for advance bookings, a lack of transparency in pricing, and possible violations of consumer rights.
Ijagwu revealed that complaints included allegations of Air Peace influencing other airlines to raise fares and arbitrarily cancelling flights without compensating passengers.
“Even more disturbing was the assertion by Air Peace at the press conference that the sum of between ₦500,000 and ₦700,000 should be the ideal fare for a one-hour domestic flight in Nigeria,” he said.
He noted consumer arguments contesting Air Peace’s claim that it spends ₦7 million to fuel an aircraft for a one-hour flight.
“At the ₦500,000 being proposed by Air Peace as the ‘most ideal fare,’ it then means a Boeing 737-500 would be fetching a whopping ₦60 million per one-hour service,” Ijagwu explained, adding that another airline recently reduced fares to ₦80,000, proving affordability and sustainability can coexist.
Ijagwu recounted an incident at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport on November 29, when passengers became unruly after a four-hour delay on an Air Peace flight.
“Only penultimate Friday, the domestic wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport witnessed a rampage by irate passengers of Air Peace at 10PM following more than four-hour delay on the Abuja-Lagos service, thereby threatening public peace,” he said.
He also cited complaints about passengers being charged a 50% surcharge when attempting to reschedule flights after delays or cancellations.
The FCCPC reiterated its authority under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) to ensure fair pricing and prevent exploitative practices across all sectors, including aviation.
“For the avoidance of doubt, let it therefore be noted that no amount of blackmail or cowboy tactics can stop the Commission from the ongoing thorough investigation of the allegations against Air Peace with a view to taking the appropriate action in accordance with the provisions of the FCCPA,” Ijagwu affirmed.
The commission assured the public of its dedication to protecting consumer rights and addressing unfair practices in the aviation industry.