Abuja, Nigeria – The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has reportedly found five airlines guilty of colluding to fix ticket prices during the 2025 Christmas and New Year festive period. The disclosure was made by the President’s Special Adviser on Media via social media on Thursday.
Okay News reports that the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Tunji Bello, revealed the findings during a State House press session. The announcement followed preliminary investigations into sharp airfare increases during the festive season, which reportedly surged to between N405,000 and N600,000 on some routes.
The commission is set to sanction about five airlines guilty of price collusion. Passengers may also be eligible for refunds of excess charges collected during the period. The names of the airlines were not disclosed, and a final report is expected shortly.
The investigation began following public complaints about fare hikes on routes to the South-East and South-South regions. The commission’s interim report in February claimed it uncovered patterns of price manipulation specifically during December 2025.
The findings were based on data comparing December 2025 fares with post-peak January 2026 prices. Higher fares coincided with reduced seat availability during seasonal demand peaks.
Airlines Operators of Nigeria rejected the claims. They argued that fare adjustments reflect standard industry practices driven by supply and demand, not collusion.
The Minister of Aviation stated the federal government cannot fix or control airfares. Pricing in Nigeria’s deregulated aviation market is driven entirely by market forces.
Aviation expert Alex Nwuba explained that December fare surges are a recurring seasonal pattern. Prices rise because many travellers book late, pushing tickets into higher fare brackets. Limited aircraft capacity, a weakened naira, high global fuel costs, and multiple aviation charges further drive up prices.
 has reportedly found five airlines guilty of colluding to fix ticket prices during the 2025 Christmas and New Year festive period.){kind=link}