By Trust Atiyota
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) says it has uncovered patterns of possible price manipulation by some domestic airlines during the December 2025 festive season, following an industry-wide investigation into exploitative airfares on local routes.
Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Tunji Bello, stated this in an interim report issued by the agency’s Department of Surveillance and Investigations.
The report, signed by Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, forms part of the Commission’s statutory mandate under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.
According to Bello, the assessment compared ticket prices during the December 2025 peak travel period with post-peak fares in January 2026.
Preliminary findings showed that festive fares were materially higher across several routes, despite relative stability in major cost drivers such as aviation fuel prices, government charges and foreign exchange rates.
The report suggests that the fare increases may have been driven more by yield management and capacity allocation strategies than by changes in regulatory fees.
Route-level analysis indicated that higher ticket prices coincided with reduced seat availability during predictable seasonal demand peaks.
On some high-density routes, peak fares were reportedly clustered within narrow price bands across multiple operators, raising concerns about potential anti-competitive conduct.
The Abuja–Port Harcourt corridor was cited as one of the routes where fares during the festive season rose significantly above post-peak levels, with some tickets increasing by as much as ₦405,000.
While acknowledging that seasonal demand pressures, scheduling constraints and fleet utilisation can influence pricing, the Commission said these factors remain under further review.
It stressed that the findings are interim and that additional structural and route-specific analysis is ongoing.
Bello noted that the review identified the possible relevance of key provisions of the FCCPA, including sections addressing agreements in restraint of competition, abuse of dominance, price fixing, conspiracy and unfair contract terms.
He emphasised that any regulatory or enforcement action would be based strictly on verified facts and in accordance with the law.
The FCCPC clarified that its role is not to disrupt legitimate commercial activity but to ensure that market outcomes align with competition and consumer protection principles, especially during predictable peak travel periods.
Meanwhile, the Commission disclosed that foreign airlines will also come under scrutiny after the domestic review is concluded.
This follows complaints that some international carriers allegedly charge Nigerian travellers higher fares on comparable routes than those offered in neighbouring countries.
The FCCPC reiterated its commitment to promoting competitive markets, protecting consumers and ensuring transparency in the aviation sector as part of broader efforts to strengthen regulatory oversight and public confidence.
