The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has launched an investigation into the activities of domestic airlines over alleged exploitative pricing that rocketed one-way trips to N450,000 ($310) in December.

“Given the arbitrary spike in airfares, the commission is extending its review of pricing patterns, the basis for the increases reported by consumers,” said a statement by FCCPC on Friday. “Where evidence confirms a breach of the Act, FCCPC will apply appropriate enforcement measures.”

The commission noted that “concerns have been expressed widely in the past few days over what appears to be coordinated manipulation or exploitation in the pricing of airline tickets by some airlines on certain routes, especially in the South-East and South-South, as the festive season begins”.

According to FCCPC, the ongoing investigation targets operators on the identified routes. The commission said it would apply appropriate enforcement measures where evidence showed any violation of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act.

Air Peace instituted a court action seeking to restrain the commission from examining its pricing mechanisms, following the commencement of an investigation into its pricing model amid widespread public complaints. However, the statement noted that the ongoing inquiry was without prejudice to the case instituted by the airline against the FCCPC.

“The commission would not hesitate to act where evidence showed that consumers’ welfare or market competitiveness were being undermined. For the avoidance of doubt, we are not a price control board, but the FCCPAct 2018 empowers us to check the exploitation of consumers. When we receive petitions or find cogent evidence, we will not stand by and watch Nigerian consumers being exploited under any guise.

”Given the arbitrary spike in airfares, the Commission is extending its review of pricing patterns, the basis for the increases reported by consumers, and any practices that could undermine fair competition. Where evidence confirms a breach of the Act, FCCPC will apply appropriate enforcement measures,” said FCCPC’s executive vice-chairman Tunji Bello.