The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, on Thursday, disclosed it has uncovered evidence of airfare manipulation by some domestic airlines during the 2025 Christmas season.

The Commission, in a statement by the Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, indicated that its interim report showed significant fare increases during the festive peak compared with January 2026 post-peak prices.

The FCCPC said the review followed an industry-wide investigation announced in January, using pricing data from airlines operating local routes.

According to the report, December peak fares were markedly higher across several routes, despite stable fuel costs, taxes, and foreign exchange rates.

The Commission said the increases appear tied to airlines’ pricing decisions, including yield management and seat allocation, rather than regulatory changes.

The Commission noted that on high-traffic routes, including Abuja to Port Harcourt, ticket prices during the peak period were several times higher than post-peak levels. In certain cases, the gap for a single ticket was as much as N405,000.

The Commission, however, noted that seasonal demand, scheduling limits, and fleet utilisation may also affect fares, adding that those factors are still under review.

FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Tunji Bello, said the exercise is part of the Commission’s mandate to protect consumers and promote competition.

He stressed that the report is interim and that any enforcement action will depend on the outcome of the full investigation.

The Commission also said that foreign airlines will be investigated next, following complaints of exploitative pricing on routes from Nigeria compared with neighbouring countries.