FCCPC Establishes Case of Price Fixing by Local Airlines

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has released an interim report on domestic airline pricing during the 2025 festive season, uncovering patterns of price manipulation by some local carriers.

The findings are contained in a report issued by the Commission’s Department of Surveillance and Investigations. The Commission had announced an industry-wide investigation in January.

According to a statement signed by the Commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, The forensic exercise relied on data obtained from airlines operating domestic routes.

The report compares airline fares during the December 2025 festive period with post-peak January 2026 levels. Preliminary analysis shows that fares recorded during the December peak were significantly higher than post-peak levels across several routes, despite relative stability in key operating variables such as fuel prices, government taxes and foreign exchange.

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For instance, on corridors such as Abuja–Port Harcourt, peak fares were several times higher than corresponding post-peak levels. On selected routes, the difference in the price of a single ticket reached about ₦405,000. Median fares across sampled routes also rose sharply during the festive window compared with post-peak benchmarks.

However, the interim report acknowledges that seasonal demand pressures, scheduling constraints and fleet utilisation may also influence pricing during peak travel periods.

Commenting on the report, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, said the exercise forms part of the Commission’s statutory duty to promote competitive markets and protect consumers.

He stressed that the report is interim and that subsequent actions will depend on facts established at the end of the review. The Commission will then determine whether regulatory guidance, engagement or enforcement measures are required in line with the law.

Meanwhile, Bello announced that foreign airlines will come under FCCPC review after the current probe of local airlines, following complaints of exploitative fares charged to Nigerians on certain routes compared with fares in neighbouring countries of similar distance.