The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has criticised domestic airlines for the continuous sales of tickets beyond May 9, the scheduled date for their planned shutdown of operations.

Babatunde Irukera, the executive vice-chairman of FCCPC, on Saturday in Abuja, frowned at the rising consumer feedback that airlines had continued to sell tickets beyond May 9.

Mr Irukera said if the airlines have decided and are resolute, it will be egregious exploitation of consumers and a violation of law to purport to sell a service that the provider knows will not or does not intend to provide or deliver.

“It is misleading and deceptive under Section 123 of the FCCPA to represent that a service will be delivered on a specific date when the provider knows the same is false or improbable.

“The commission is optimistic that airline operators will not deliberately sell tickets for flights they do not intend to operate and is, as such, hopeful that a solution short of a shutdown will emerge accordingly,” he said.

The airlines had considered shutting down operations indefinitely from Monday due to the high aviation fuel price, which rose from N190 to N700 per litre.

However, Mr Irukera appealed to airline operators to shelve their proposed service shutdown, and consider the effect on passengers, as well as the difficulties and hardship associated with their action.

Mr Irukera said that the commission was engaging both operators and the leadership of significant fuel marketers in a discussion to understand the global supply challenges and possible steps to ameliorate the same.

“The commission strongly advocates engagement among all stakeholders across the value chain to mitigate the current constraints and develop an acceptable interim arrangement.

“This is to address problems and costs associated with global supply constraints on account of the war, sanctions related to the war, and a fragile ongoing post-pandemic recovery in aviation,” he said.

Mr Irukera said that the commission would continue to monitor the evolving situation and remain committed to supporting engagements to provide solutions and stability.

(NAN)