The Federal Festival and Shopper Coverage Fee has warned Breeze Ease towards obstructing the continued inquiry into alleged exploitative price ticket pricing and alternative doable violations of customers’ rights.
That is consistent with a remark on Sunday by means of the Fee’s Director, Company Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu.
The FCCPC’s inquiry into the airline used to be caused by means of a surge of court cases from passengers about unfair pricing, gliding cancellations, and alternative practices probably damaging to customers.
The fee performed a gathering with Breeze Ease on December 3, 2024, to handle the troubles raised in various petitions.
The FCCPC mentioned the consultation, which used to be held in digital camera, used to be meant to offer protection to the confidentiality of the investigation.
Then again, the fee famous that “shortly after the meeting, leaks surfaced in the media, misrepresenting the proceedings and making unfounded claims.”
Recall that the FCCPC had clarified the condition on December 5, reiterating that its investigation into Breeze Ease used to be ongoing.
Within the remark, the fee mentioned, “The inquiry is still ongoing, and the public should be wary of manufactured news. The report claiming that Air Peace was not under investigation was not disseminated through our official communication platforms.”
Ijagwu mentioned the leaks quoted Breeze Ease’s Chairman, Mr Allen Onyema, making numerous statements, together with a boast that he may just “shut down the airline” as a favour to the people, however very easily disregarded alternative feedback that raised issues.
The FCCPC famous that Onyema’s remarks looked to be meant to undermine the investigation and distract from the core problems.
The airline had previous, in a press convention on Friday, asserted that best the gliding regulatory company had the authority to analyze its affairs, an issue that the FCCPC pushed aside as a false impression of each the felony and ethical framework atmosphere person rights.
“The rights of passengers are inalienable and guaranteed under the FCCPA,” the FCCPC countered, emphasising that the Fee has the felony mandate to analyze pricing practices and alternative consumer-related problems in all sectors, together with gliding.
The Fee pointed to Division 17(e) of the FCCPA 2018, which supplies it the authority to habits inquiries when important or fascinating in reference to any subject falling beneath its purview.
Additional reinforcing its mandate, the FCCPC cited Division 127(1)(a) of the FCCPA, which empowers it to assure that pricing practices throughout all sectors, together with gliding, are honest and non-exploitative.
The Fee additionally pointed to Division 148(3)(c) of the Function, which permits it to start up inquiries in line with person court cases.
One of the crucial main problems beneath investigation is Breeze Ease’s pricing practices.
The FCCPC mentioned the airline had not too long ago proposed fare hikes starting from N500,000 to N700,000 for a one-hour home gliding, mentioning prime gasoline prices.
Then again, a number of person court cases match those figures, claiming that Breeze Ease’s gasoline value is inflated.
“At the proposed N500,000 fare, a Boeing 737-500 would be fetching a whopping N60 million per one-hour service,” the FCCPC mentioned.
It contrasted Breeze Ease’s pricing with a competitor airline that not too long ago decreased its fares to as little as N80,000 for matching home routes, demonstrating that affordability and sustainability can coexist within the gliding trade.
Ijagwu mentioned along with issues about pricing, a number of passengers have complained about arbitrary gliding cancellations and broke repayment practices.
FCCPC famous that as an example, on November 29, a bunch of irate passengers on the Nnamdi Azikwe Global Airport staged a protest nearest experiencing a four-hour lengthen at the Abuja-Lagos course. The protest ended in a safety intervention to revive line on the airport.
It added that passengers have additionally reported that nearest experiencing gliding cancellations or delays, they have been compelled to pay a 50 consistent with cent surcharge to rebook their tickets on any other future.
The FCCPC mentioned in spite of those efforts to deflect consideration from the continued inquiry, it remainder resolute in its constancy to safeguarding person rights.
“No amount of blackmail or cowboy tactics can stop the Commission from the ongoing thorough investigation of the allegations against Air Peace,” the Fee warned.
Reaffirming its function, the FCCPC underscored its accountability to assure that each one sectors, together with gliding, perform in an excellent and aggressive condition.
“The Commission is committed to safeguarding consumer rights, promoting market fairness, and fostering a competitive and transparent marketplace across all sectors, including aviation,” Ijagwu mentioned.