“We Did Not Manipulate Prices During 2025 Festive Season” – Airline Operators of Nigeria
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) had accused local airlines of manipulating ticket pricing during the December 2025 holiday season, but the Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON) has denied these allegations. Professor Obiora Okonkwo, an AON spokeswoman, released the reply, which was covered by African Independent Television (AIT) on Friday.
The disagreement follows the FCCPC’s interim report, suggesting patterns of price manipulation on some domestic routes.
The AON maintains that rate modifications are a result of supply and demand-driven industry norms and that the Commission lacks the technical know-how to analyse airline pricing systems. The group said that if the regulator’s findings are not contested, domestic carriers may not survive.
“The Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON) has responded to allegations by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) that domestic airlines manipulated ticket prices during the December 2025 festive season,” the AIT report read.
“Speaking in reaction, AON spokesperson Professor Obiora Okonkwo described the Commission’s actions as very detrimental to the survival of domestic operators.”
“He argued that the FCCPC lacks the technical expertise to interpret airline pricing structures and accused the Commission of playing to the gallery.”
According to Okonkwo, a number of operational factors, such as maintenance schedules, aircraft availability, insurance requirements, airport and navigation fees, and currency-denominated expenditures, affect airline price in addition to fuel costs.
He also insisted that, as is customary in international aviation, demand and supply dynamics have a significant impact on pricing modifications during peak travel windows.
