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ECOWAS orders 25% cut in air transport charges from January 2026
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has directed all member states to fully implement a 25 percent reduction in regional air transport charges, with effect from January 1, 2026.
The directive was issued at the 68th ordinary session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, held on Sunday in Abuja.
The decision follows an earlier resolution reached in June 2025 to reduce passenger and security charges by 25 percent, in response to the persistent surge in air ticket prices across the sub-region.
According to the 2024 taxes and charges study by the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), West Africa was ranked the most expensive region to fly from on the continent.
The report revealed that passengers paid an average of $109.5 in taxes, charges and fees for international departures in 2022.
The study also showed that several ECOWAS member states featured prominently among the top 10 most expensive countries in terms of ticket-related taxes and charges. Gabon ranked first on the list, followed by Sierra Leone and Nigeria, while Niger Republic, Benin, Senegal, Liberia, Guinea and Ghana also made the rankings.
Despite the high cost of air travel, ECOWAS noted that Central and Western Africa together accounted for 18.5 percent of Africa’s total air traffic in the first quarter of 2025, making the sub-region the third largest in terms of air traffic volume on the continent.
In a communique issued at the end of the summit, ECOWAS leaders further directed the removal of certain taxes imposed on air transport services within the region.
The authority said the decision aligns with the principles and procedures of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which discourage the taxation of air transport services based on non-related costs and emphasise transparency and cost-related pricing.
ECOWAS also mandated its commission to work closely with ministries of finance and air transport across member states to ensure uniform and strict compliance with the directive.
The bloc expressed optimism that the measures would lower airfares, improve regional connectivity, boost passenger traffic, and support economic integration across West Africa.
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