ECOWAS air ticket taxes will be abolished by 2026 to cut flight costs, boost travel demand, and support regional integration across West Africa

The Economic Community of West African States Commission on Wednesday in Abuja announced that all ECOWAS air ticket taxes will be abolished from 1 January 2026 as part of a sweeping reform intended to make regional air travel more affordable and strengthen economic integration across West Africa.

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Director of Transport and Telecommunications Chris Appiah said the policy followed years of research showing that West Africa suffers from some of the highest air travel costs on the continent.

He explained that government-imposed taxes and aviation charges have inflated fares to the point where they obstruct trade, tourism and wider economic development.

Appiah noted that the issue was raised by Heads of State at the 2023 Summit in Abuja, where they directed transport and finance ministers to address the excessive cost of flying within the region.

Their decision led to a supplementary act adopted in December 2024, compelling member states to eliminate air transport taxes and reduce aviation charges by 25 per cent from January 2026.

Appiah confirmed that four major taxes, including the security tax, will be entirely removed because they have no genuine service link to aviation.

He described the charges as suppressing demand instead of encouraging growth, arguing that their removal would stimulate passenger traffic, energise trade and ultimately raise government revenue.

He cited the example of regional traders paying up to 3,000 dollars for a return ticket between Lagos and Dakar, saying a substantial share of that cost is due to taxes.

He said ECOWAS is engaging with airline operators to ensure that the reduction in taxes directly translates into cheaper fares for passengers.

The Commission intends to prevent any scenario in which airlines retain the financial advantage instead of passing it on to consumers.

Appiah also stressed that the new framework is expected to make West African carriers more competitive, noting that airlines in North, East and Southern Africa enjoy stronger growth due to significantly lower charges.

West African charges, he said, are sometimes 67 per cent higher than those in other regions.

He concluded that the policy would deliver broad benefits across society.

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Appiah said that increased travel would support tourism, health, education and intra-regional business, describing the initiative as a powerful step towards deeper regional integration.