Yuletide: FCCPC orders airlines to refund excess fares to passengers

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has announced plans to compel airlines that increased ticket prices during the December 2025 Yuletide season to refund excess charges to affected passengers.

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing State House correspondents during a media session at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Bello said the Commission had concluded investigations into allegations of price fixing involving about five or six airlines and would soon release its final report alongside appropriate sanctions.

According to him, ticket prices that normally ranged between ₦145,000 and ₦150,000 surged to between ₦400,000 and ₦670,000 during the Christmas period, triggering widespread complaints from travellers.

“We carried out investigations following complaints that airlines fixed prices during the Christmas period. Ticket prices that were usually within normal ranges suddenly rose to between ₦400,000 and ₦670,000,” Bello said.

“Our investigation showed evidence of price-fixing arrangements among some operators. The preliminary report has already found them wanting, and the final report will be issued very soon,” he added.

The FCCPC boss explained that part of the Commission’s proposed actions includes forcing the affected airlines to refund passengers who paid inflated fares during the period.

“We are considering measures that will require the airlines to refund the excess charges collected from passengers who were exploited. These steps will become clearer when the final report is released,” he said.