West Africa to Slash Aviation Taxes and Fees Starting January 2026

Nairobi. West Africa is preparing for a significant increase in air travel demand as regional heads of state move to eliminate taxes and reduce fees that currently account for nearly half of flight ticket costs, with implementation set to begin in January 2026.

Regional heads of state and government approved these groundbreaking measures at their December 2024 summit in Abuja, targeting the cost barriers that have made West Africa one of the world’s most expensive regions for air travel.

Under the new Supplementary Act on Aviation Charges, Taxes and Fees, all Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member countries will eliminate air transport taxes and reduce passenger and security charges by 25%.

ECOWAS officials expect the reforms will strengthen domestic and regional airlines, expand mobility and accelerate economic integration across the region.

"The citizens of West Africa can travel freely, enjoy affordable air tickets, and the regional integration agenda that we seek will happen," ECOWAS’s Director of Transport, Chris Appiah, told journalists in Nigeria.

The bloc projects that if fares fall by 30 to 40%, intra-regional passenger numbers could climb to between 12 and 15 million annually within three years, based on modelling from the ECOWAS Commission.

"A lot of people will start traveling, a lot of traders will start moving, and this is revenue for government because they’ll pay more taxes," said Appiah.

Currently, a return ticket from Accra to Dakar averages $650 to $900, while an Accra to Lagos flight, which is barely an hour long, frequently sells for about $350 to $450, according to fare data from major West African carriers.

Analysis suggests that with proper reforms, the return ticket from Accra to Dakar could cost as low as $215 to a high of $537, while the Accra to Lagos flight could cost between $41 to $101, leading to up to 80% savings on ticket costs.

Industry experts point to successful aviation liberalization in other regions as evidence of the potential impact. Europe’s air transport liberalization between 1992 and 2000 saw fares fall by more than 15% while flight frequencies surged 88%. Over the same period, the number of routes expanded by 75% and available seats more than doubled.

In Africa, Morocco’s full airline market liberalization, institutionalized in 2006, pushed fares down by about 7% and expanded route networks, delivering significant gains for national carrier Royal Air Maroc and low-cost airlines. The increased connectivity helped lift tourist arrivals in the country by an average of 6% annually.

Similarly, the adoption of low-cost carrier models in South Africa transformed the market, with FlySafair expanding its capacity by nearly 800% between 2018 and 2024, demonstrating the growth potential unlocked by liberalized skies.

The immediate effects of the anticipated reduction in flight ticket costs across West Africa are expected to first benefit active ECOWAS members including Benin, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

It remains unclear whether countries suspended due to coups, including Guinea-Bissau and Guinea, and those no longer participating due to military takeovers like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, will immediately benefit from the lower air fares.

Despite a population of more than 420 million, West Africa handles only half of North Africa’s approximately 40% share of the continent’s air traffic, despite North Africa having a population of about 280 million.

"It’s been established that our region is the most expensive when it comes to air transport services," said Appiah, noting government-imposed taxes and charges by aviation authorities and airport operators as key drivers.

Industry data shows West Africa charges an average of $110 per passenger in taxes for international departures, compared to just $10 in the European Union. Fuel taxes in Africa make jet fuel 17% more expensive than the global average, accounting for 40% of operating costs compared to 25% globally.

"The taxes levied by governments and the charges collected by civil aviation authorities and airport companies are a big part of the ticket cost," Appiah said.

A new Regional Air Transport Economic Oversight Mechanism will track implementation, monitor fare changes and publish regional comparisons to ensure member countries adhere to the measures.

Currently, Lagos and Abuja airports rank at the bottom of Africa’s top 10 airports by passenger traffic, each handling fewer than two million passengers in 2024. Only one regional corridor, Accra to Lagos, made it into the top 10 busiest intra-African routes last year.