The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has criticised the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), saying the agency lacks the professional expertise to interfere in airline operations and pricing structures.

Obiora Okonkwo, spokesperson for the AON, said in a statement that the commission’s actions are detrimental to the survival of domestic carriers.

AON’s reaction follows the FCCPC’s claim that it uncovered credible evidence suggesting domestic airlines engaged in price manipulation during the December 2025 festive season.

In an interim report released on Thursday, the FCCPC’s Surveillance and Investigations Department accused domestic airlines of increasing fares far beyond what could be justified by operating costs alone.

The commission said it collected data directly from airlines operating domestic routes, analysing ticket prices during the December 2025 peak travel period and comparing them with fares recorded in the post-holiday period in January 2026.

According to the FCCPC, airfares rose sharply across multiple routes during the festive season. The commission noted that there were no corresponding increases in taxes, foreign exchange rates or aviation fuel prices that could explain the surge.

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It further alleged that the fare increases were the result of deliberate decisions by airlines, including the restriction of available seat capacity during peak travel periods.

Responding to the report, Okonkwo said, “What the FCCPC is doing is very detrimental to the survival of domestic operators. They do not understand the economics of airlines and do not possess the professional expertise to dabble in how prices are fixed.”

He insisted that the commission does not understand the complexities of airline operations and suggested that its claims were unfounded.

“We have immense respect for all government agencies, but we will not accept any statement that is not based on realities or facts,” Okonkwo said.

The disagreement underscores growing tensions between regulators and industry operators over pricing practices in Nigeria’s aviation sector.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.

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