The Economic Community of West African States has announced that all air ticket taxes across the subregion will be abolished from January 1, 2026, in a sweeping policy aimed at cutting the high cost of air travel and improving regional mobility.
The decision, confirmed by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, represents one of the most significant aviation reforms in West Africa in recent decades. Officials say the measure follows years of technical studies revealing that West Africa records some of the highest airfares on the continent, driven mostly by taxes and aviation charges imposed by member states.
Chris Appiah, ECOWAS director of transport and communications, disclosed the details while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers meeting in Abuja. He explained that between sixty four percent and seventy percent of a typical airline ticket in the subregion consists of taxes and charges, far above what passengers pay in other African regions.
Appiah said the Heads of State had agreed that all member states must remove taxes on air transport from January 2026, describing the current cost regime as a major obstacle to travel demand, trade and economic integration. He added that many of the taxes contradict international aviation guidelines and have contributed to the stagnation of the regional aviation industry.
According to him, the high cost of air travel continues to suppress mobility and hinder business growth. He cited the example of a trader traveling from Lagos to Dakar who may pay up to three thousand dollars for a return ticket, largely due to taxes and levies imposed by governments.
He noted that ECOWAS is already engaging airlines to ensure fare reductions once the tax burden is lifted, emphasizing that passengers must feel the direct benefit of the policy. Appiah also highlighted that other African regions charge much lower fees, enabling airlines such as Ethiopian Airlines, South African Airways and Royal Air Maroc to operate profitably, while West African carriers struggle under punishing cost structures.
