The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) is set to sanction airlines found guilty of inflating fares during the Christmas and New Year holiday periods.

The commission revealed that at least five major airlines engaged in ticket price manipulation during peak travel times, despite stability in key operating costs such as aviation fuel, government taxes, and foreign exchange.

FCCPC Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Tunji Bello, disclosed this in a report prepared by the agency’s Department of Surveillance and Investigations, signed by the Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu.

He noted that an industry-wide investigation into exploitative airfares on local routes had been launched in January.

“This assessment aims to clarify pricing behaviour during predictable peak travel periods,” Bello said.

“The commission’s role is not to disrupt legitimate commercial activity, but to ensure market outcomes remain consistent with competition and consumer protection laws.”

Route-level analysis showed that higher fares coincided with reduced seat availability during peak seasons. On some high-density routes, prices were clustered within narrow bands across multiple operators.

The Abuja–Port Harcourt corridor was highlighted as a route where fares spiked several times above post-peak levels.

Bello revealed that one-way domestic fares surged to N405,000, and in extreme cases, reached N600,000. He stressed that these increases were not driven by market forces or fuel costs, but appeared to be deliberate attempts to exploit travellers during the holidays.

The FCCPC boss confirmed that a final report will be released soon, after which sanctions may be imposed on offending airlines or refunds mandated for affected customers.

The investigation referenced Sections 59, 72, 107, 108, 124, and 127 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018.

He urged travellers to retain boarding passes and payment evidence as the report is finalized. “Our next actions will be dictated by the facts established at the end of the review.

The commission will determine whether regulatory guidance, engagement, or enforcement steps are necessary, strictly in accordance with the law,” Bello added.