Regional bloc moves to tackle high travel costs, deepen integration, and reform aviation sector
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced that it will eliminate all air ticket taxes across airports in the sub-region beginning January 1, 2026, a decision expected to sharply reduce airfares and strengthen regional connectivity.
The development was disclosed by Chris Appiah, ECOWAS Director of Transport and Communications, during an interview with journalists on the sidelines of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers meeting held Wednesday in Abuja.
Appiah said the measure is part of a comprehensive aviation reform package endorsed by the Authority of Heads of State and Government in December 2024.
High Taxes Blamed for West Africa’s Expensive Air Travel
According to Appiah, a decade of extensive studies shows that West Africa currently has the highest cost of air travel on the continent, driven primarily by heavy government-imposed taxes and aviation charges.
“If you buy a typical ticket in West Africa, about 64 percent, sometimes up to 70 percent of the price is taxes and charges,” he explained.
He emphasised that from January 1, 2026, all ECOWAS countries are expected to completely remove these taxes in line with the Heads of State directive.
Air Ticket Levies Violate ICAO Guidelines
Appiah noted that many of the existing taxes contradict the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and actually suppress travel demand rather than supporting sector growth.
“These taxes are against ICAO guidelines and suppress demand rather than support growth,”
he said.
He added that affordable air transport is essential for the bloc’s integration agenda, which hinges on free movement and increased economic exchange across borders.
Connectivity at the Heart of ECOWAS Integration
The ECOWAS transport chief stressed that air travel plays a central role in advancing trade, tourism, education, healthcare access, and business opportunities within West Africa.
He illustrated the impact of high travel costs on commerce:
“For a trader traveling from Lagos to Dakar, the ticket can cost no less than $3,000, much of it driven by taxes.”
Airlines Engaged to Guarantee Lower Fares
Appiah also confirmed that ECOWAS is already in discussions with regional airlines to ensure the tax removal directly results in lower ticket prices for passengers.
“We are working with the airlines to make sure that when the taxes are removed, they also reduce their airfares so West Africans can travel freely,”
he said.
He added that other African regions operate with fewer aviation charges, which is why airlines such as Ethiopian Airlines, South African Airways, and Royal Air Maroc perform significantly better than carriers in West Africa.
Implementation Framework in Progress
To ensure smooth rollout by January 2026, ECOWAS is working closely with member states, national parliaments, and aviation sector stakeholders.
Appiah noted that current aviation charges in West Africa are up to 67 percent higher than in other African regions, a disparity the bloc seeks to correct to revive its struggling aviation market.
A Landmark Decision for West African Aviation
The tax removal was formally adopted at the December 2024 ECOWAS Summit in Abuja, with regional leaders describing it as a historic step toward revitalising the air transport industry, which has suffered years of slow growth due to high taxes and fees.
Context: ECOWAS Responds to Worsening Regional Instability
This latest move comes as ECOWAS intensifies political and security interventions across the region.
On Tuesday, the bloc declared a state of emergency across West Africa following a recent uptick in military coups and attempted power grabs.
A day earlier, it ordered the deployment of its standby force to the Republic of Benin after authorities foiled a coup attempt.
