West Africa’s notoriously expensive skies are set for a major shift after the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced it will abolish all air transport taxes and cut passenger and security charges by 25% across 12 member states starting January 1, 2026 .
The move aims to slash fares, boost tourism, and better connect the region’s $700 billion economy.
The decision, first adopted at the ECOWAS summit in Abuja in December 2024, was reaffirmed in a new statement issued on December 10, 2025.
West African flights rank among the most expensive globally, with taxes and fees often accounting for over 40% of ticket prices. A Lagos–Accra flight, for instance, can cost more than Lagos–London.
“From 1 January 2026, all ECOWAS Member States will abolish air transport taxes and reduce passenger and security charges by 25 percent,” the bloc said. A new oversight mechanism will monitor implementation and impact.
West Africa’s aviation sector has long struggled under the weight of excessive charges. International departure fees average $109.50, the highest in Africa and nearly double East Africa’s $63.30.
According to the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), Nigeria ranks third on the continent for high air ticket taxes, behind Gabon and Sierra Leone.
These costs have stifled regional carriers and suppressed demand. While African airlines are projected to carry 113 million passengers continent-wide in 2025—a 15% jump from 2024—growth in intra-West African travel has lagged.
Chris Appiah, ECOWAS’s Director of Transport, described the existing taxes as “contrary to International Civil Aviation Organisation guidelines,” saying they inflate passenger costs without improving aviation services.
“Our charges are sometimes 67% more than any other region on the continent,” he told reporters in Abuja. “That is why airlines like Ethiopian Airlines, South African Airlines and Royal Air Maroc are doing very well, while our region is suffering.”
Under the new Supplementary Act on Aviation Charges, Taxes and Fees, member states must:
If fully implemented, the reforms would mark the most significant regulatory shift in West African aviation in decades.
The reforms are expected to harmonize levies across the region and align with the African Union’s Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), a flagship initiative to liberalize air travel across the continent.
Stakeholders are betting that cheaper flights will unlock West Africa’s travel potential.
Cities like Lagos, Accra, Dakar, Abidjan, and Banjul, already cultural magnets, stand to benefit. Lower fares could mean more weekend trips, easier business travel, and a boost to intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
But not everyone is convinced the reforms will stick.
“If it happens, it will be a major leap for travel in West Africa,” said Ikechi Ukoh, a Nigerian travel business consultant and organizer of the Akwaaba African Travel Market, in a phone interview with Maarifaah.
“Most people travel by road. But the cost of traveling by road is expensive, and traveling by air is exploitative. So if this happens, it will go a long way in boosting travel in West Africa.”
Still, Ukoh remains skeptical.
“Most people don’t believe it,” he said, citing concerns in professional travel groups and pointing to new fees recently introduced by Nigeria and Ghana. “Each country will find a way to subvert it. Everyone finds a way to bend the rule. We are waiting till January 2nd to see.”
With burdensome levies easing, at least on paper, airlines like Air Peace and ASKY are expected to expand their regional networks. And if savings reach passengers, not just carriers, West Africa could finally unlock the full potential of its skies.
