West Africa set for cheaper flights as ECOWAS plots to end air ticket taxes

The Economic Community of West African States is set to abolish all air ticket taxes across the region from 1 January 2026, marking one of the bloc’s most significant transport reforms in recent years.

• ECOWAS has approved a landmark policy to eliminate all air ticket taxes across West Africa starting in January 2026.
• The reform aims to reduce some of the highest flight costs on the continent and stimulate regional travel.
• Officials say removing these taxes will expand demand, strengthen trade, and improve airline competitiveness.
• The Commission is working with carriers to ensure the savings translate into lower fares for passengers.

Officials say the policy is designed to reduce the high cost of air travel in West Africa, strengthen regional connectivity, and stimulate trade and tourism.

The Director of Transport and Telecommunications at the ECOWAS Commission, Chris Appiah, confirmed the development during a briefing with journalists in Abuja.

He said the decision followed extensive research that consistently ranked West Africa as the most expensive region for air travel on the continent, largely due to government-imposed taxes and aviation charges.

“These taxes are against the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s guidelines and suppress demand rather than support growth,” he said. Appiah added that four major taxes, including the widely applied security tax, have no genuine link to aviation services and will be removed entirely.

The reform stems from directives issued by Heads of State during the 2023 ECOWAS Summit in Abuja.

Following that decision, a supplementary act adopted in December 2024 mandated that member states eliminate taxes on air transport and cut aviation charges by 25 per cent, beginning in 2026.

According to Appiah, the current cost of regional flights has created untenable barriers for ordinary travellers and traders. He illustrated the problem with a common route.

“If you want to buy goods from Lagos to Dakar, for instance, a trader will not pay less than about 3,000 dollars in tickets, and a lot of that is taxes,” he said.

A return fare on that route today often ranges from $2,500 to $3,200, depending on the airline.

The Commission believes removing these layers of taxes will lower fares, increase passenger volumes, and ultimately boost government revenue as travel demand grows.

ECOWAS is also working directly with airlines to ensure that the benefits of the new regime translate to lower ticket prices for consumers.

“We are working with the airlines themselves to make sure that when the taxes and charges are removed, they will also, in turn, reduce their tickets, so that the citizens of West Africa can travel freely,” Appiah said.

The policy is expected to improve the competitiveness of West African carriers, which have lagged behind airlines in other regions that benefit from more favourable operating environments.

Appiah noted that air transport charges in West Africa can be up to 67 per cent higher compared to other parts of the continent.

He stressed that the benefits of the reform will extend beyond governments and airlines.

“When taxes are reduced, demand goes up, and lots of people start travelling,” he said, adding that stronger air connectivity will support tourism, health, education, and other sectors that rely on mobility.