Travel/Tourism
Festive Travel Surge: FCCPC Flags Fare Manipulation by Airlines
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) says its investigation uncovered how airlines manipulated flight fares and fixed prices arbitrarily during the last Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
The findings, contained in an interim report released on Thursday by the commission’s department of surveillance and investigations, compared domestic airline pricing from the December 2025 festive period with post-peak January 2026 fare levels.
The FCCPC, in a statement signed by its director of corporate affairs, Mr Ondaje Ijagwu, said it established cases of price fixing by local airlines, documented abuse during the festive season, and would soon begin a probe of foreign airlines, following its ongoing country-wide investigation, which was announced earlier in January.
“A review undertaken by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has uncovered patterns of price manipulation perpetrated by some local airlines during the last festive season. The forensic exercise benefitted from data collated by the commission from airlines operating local routes in the country,” the report said.
The report compares domestic airline pricing from the December 2025 festive period with post-peak January 2026 fare levels.
The FCCPC’s preliminary analysis indicated that fares recorded during the December peak period were materially higher than those observed in the post-peak period across several routes despite relative stability in critical operating variables such as fuel price, government taxes and foreign exchange.
“The differences observed in fares therefore appear to reflect airlines’ arbitrary pricing decisions, including yield management and capacity allocation, rather than any variation in regulatory fees,” the report said.
It also noted that route-level analysis showed that higher fares coincided with periods of reduced seat availability during predictable seasonal demand peaks. On some high-density routes, peak fares were clustered within relatively narrow ranges across several operators.
It noted that on certain 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 approximately N405,000. Median fares across the sampled routes also rose markedly during the festive window when compared with post-peak benchmarks,” it said.
The report identified the relevance of Sections 59, 72, 107, 108, 124 and 127 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018, which address the prohibition of agreements in restraint of competition, the prohibition of abuse of a dominant position, the offence of price-fixing, conspiracy to commit offences under the Act, the right to fair dealings, and the prohibition of unfair, unreasonable or unjust contract terms.
The FCCPC, however, recognised that seasonal demand pressures, scheduling constraints and fleet utilisation might also affect pricing during the peak travel period. It added that these actors remain under consideration as part of the commission’s ongoing review.
Commenting on the release of the interim report, the executive vice chairman and chief executive officer of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, said the review was part of the commission’s statutory responsibility to promote competitive markets and safeguard consumers.
“This assessment is intended to provide clarity on pricing behaviour during predictable peak travel periods. The Commission’s role is not to disrupt legitimate commercial activity, but to ensure that market outcomes remain consistent with competition and consumer protection principles under the law,” Mr Bello said.
He noted that the commission was conducting further structural and route-level analysis before reaching any conclusions.
“It is important to emphasise that this is an interim report. Our next action will be dictated by the full facts established at the end of the review exercise. Then, the Commission will decide whether any regulatory guidance, engagement or enforcement steps are necessary, strictly in accordance with the law,” he said.
Bello further announced that foreign airlines would come under investigation by the FCCPC once the ongoing review of local airlines was concluded.
He noted that the probe of the foreign airlines would be in view of widespread complaints of exploitative fares they allegedly charge Nigerians on certain routes compared to fares in neighbouring countries of equal distance.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, has formally requested the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to review the existing three-letter location code “QRW” assigned to Osubi Airport in Delta State, with a view to adopting a code that more accurately reflects the airport’s official name and geographical identity.
The request was conveyed in a letter signed by the Minister and addressed to the IATA Area Manager for West and Central Africa, Mr Samuel Fatokun.
Osubi Airport, which bears the ICAO four-letter location indicator DNSU, is physically located in Osubi town, near Warri, Delta State. While the airport is sometimes informally identified as Warri Airport because it serves the Warri metropolitan area, the federal government has emphasised that its established and appropriate geographical designation is Osubi Airport.
According to the Minister, the continued use of the IATA code QRW, which is associated with the broader Warri identity, does not adequately reflect the airport’s actual name and physical location.
The federal government is therefore asking IATA to initiate a formal review of the existing code and, subject to IATA’s applicable coding standards and the availability of suitable combinations, consider a three-letter code that bears a clearer relationship to the name Osubi.
Among the possible alternatives suggested for consideration are OSU, OSB, SUB and QSB, while acknowledging that the final designation remains subject to IATA’s established coding procedures and availability.
The Minister said aligning the airport’s IATA code more closely with its official name and physical location would strengthen the airport’s identity, reduce potential ambiguity for passengers and other stakeholders, and promote consistency across aviation, travel, ticketing, baggage and related information systems.
In a related directive, the Minister has directed all airlines operating flights to and from the airport to ensure that appropriate flight tickets, luggage tags, boarding passes and other passenger-facing documentation reflect the airport’s proper designation as Osubi, Delta State.
He has also directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and other relevant aviation agencies to ensure that the proper designation is consistently reflected and enforced across their respective systems, records, publications and operational interfaces.
The Minister stressed that the clarification is intended to ensure geographical and operational accuracy, rather than create confusion around the airport’s role in serving the wider Warri metropolitan area.
The federal government said it remains committed to ensuring that Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure, locations and operational information are accurately represented in national and international aviation systems.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced plans to introduce Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) baggage tracking technology across domestic and international airport terminals to tackle the growing problem of delayed, misrouted and missing luggage.
The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection for NCAA, Mr Michael Achimugu, disclosed this at a stakeholder engagement forum in Lagos on Tuesday.
Mr Achimugu said the RFID-enabled system would replace the traditional barcode-based baggage tracking framework and provide airlines and passengers with real-time visibility of checked luggage from check-in to final collection.
According to him, the technology would improve baggage traceability, reduce mishandling and strengthen accountability across the baggage-handling chain.
Unlike conventional barcode systems, RFID technology allows baggage to be automatically scanned at multiple points without requiring direct line of sight, enabling real-time tracking of luggage throughout its journey.
Mr Achimugu said issues involving short-landed, missing, lost or damaged baggage had remained among the major complaints from air travellers, alongside flight delays.
He said the introduction of RFID technology was therefore aimed at improving baggage-handling standards and restoring passenger confidence in the aviation sector.
The NCAA said the initiative also aligns with IATA Resolution 753, which requires airlines to track baggage at key points during the passenger journey.
The authority expects the technology to provide more accurate information on the location of luggage, facilitate quicker resolution of baggage-related complaints and improve the overall passenger experience.
The aviation agency said the initiative would also strengthen accountability among airlines and other stakeholders involved in baggage handling at Nigerian airports.
From free date changes to industry-first comprehensive travel insurance, Emirates continues to give customers greater flexibility and more choice, as well as the ability to tailor their travel plans for more peace of mind, from booking to the moment they arrive at their destination.
Here are the latest measures at a glance:
1. Unlimited free date changes to Dubai
From 10 August 2026, customers travelling to Dubai can change their travel dates as many times as they need, free of charge, across every type of fare. Unlimited, free of charge changes run across Saver all the way through to Flex fares in Economy, and for Special, Saver and Flex fares in Business Class.*
Economy Flex Plus, Premium Economy, Business Flex Plus and First Class fares continue to remain fully flexible.
2. Refunds, at a fraction of the cost
Emirates has also substantially reduced refund fees on flights to Dubai to US$50 on Saver fares and US$25 on Flex fares in Economy. In Business Class, refund fees will be US$50 on Special and Saver fares and US$25 on Flex fares.** Together with unlimited free date changes to Dubai, this latest measure means customers can adjust or step away from a booking with minimal penalties, whatever their circumstances.
3. A free date change anywhere across the network
Customers travelling anywhere on the Emirates network receive one free date change on tickets booked from 2 April 2026, including journeys connecting through Dubai. Customers can also hold a fare for 24 hours at no charge while they finalise their plans.*
4. Comprehensive Travel Cover
Emirates’ Comprehensive Travel Cover is an industry-first insurance product covering a range of scenarios, including added conflict cover with reimbursement of medical expenses up to US$25,000 and a free trip extension of up to 30 days. The cover is not restricted by government travel advice. Customers are also covered for trip cancellation, baggage delay and loss, in addition to unlimited worldwide medical expenses and emergency evacuation.
Available at an accessible premium and across 27 countries, the cover can be purchased at the time of booking on emirates.com or added to an existing booking through Manage Booking.
Where flights are disrupted, Emirates will support impacted customers with accommodation directly. Where onward connections on other airlines are affected, or Emirates services are unavailable, customers are rebooked to their destination at no additional cost, including where cancellations are caused by airspace disruptions.
5. More flexibility and savings for Emirates Skywards members
Emirates Skywards members can get more from their journeys, with greater flexibility, more opportunities to progress their tier and additional savings when using their Miles.
Until 31 August 2026, members can benefit from:
- 20% fewer Tier Miles required to reach Silver, Gold and Platinum status.
- 20% bonus Tier Miles on Emirates and flydubai flights.
- More savings with Cash+Miles, with a special rate of 2,000 Miles = USD 30, instead of the usual USD 15, when using Miles towards Emirates or flydubai flights, excess baggage, lounge access and seat selection.
* An applicable fare difference may apply.
** No show fees remain unchanged.
