ECOWAS to scrap air ticket taxes from January 2026
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced plans to abolish air ticket taxes across all airports in the region starting January 2026, a move aimed at significantly reducing the cost of air travel.
Chris Appiah, ECOWAS Director of Transport and Communications, disclosed this on Wednesday during an interview with journalists at the ECOWAS Council of Ministers meeting in Abuja. He said the policy forms part of a broader regional transport framework approved by the Authority of Heads of State and Government in December 2024.
According to Appiah, the decision follows nearly ten years of research confirming that West Africa currently records the highest air transport costs on the continent driven largely by heavy taxation and multiple aviation charges.
“When you buy a typical ticket within West Africa, between 64 and 70 percent of the price is made up of taxes and charges,” he said. “From 1 January 2026, Heads of State have agreed that all member states will remove taxes on air transport. These taxes violate ICAO guidelines and suppress demand instead of promoting growth.”
He stressed that the new policy supports ECOWAS’ core integration agenda, which hinges on connectivity and the seamless movement of people, goods, and services. High airfares, he noted, have hindered regional travel and slowed growth in key sectors such as tourism, health, and education.
Appiah provided an example of the high costs faced by traders: “To travel from Lagos to Dakar, a trader may spend no less than $3,000 on tickets, most of which are taxes.”
He added that ECOWAS is engaging airlines to ensure that fare reductions reflect the removal of taxes and charges, enabling citizens to benefit directly from the policy.
The director also noted that West Africa lags behind other African regions in air travel competitiveness due to significantly higher charges sometimes up to 67 percent more than elsewhere. This, he said, explains why carriers like Ethiopian Airlines, South African Airways and Royal Air Maroc perform better compared to airlines within the subregion.
Appiah said ECOWAS is working closely with member states, national parliaments and aviation stakeholders to ensure full compliance when the policy comes into effect in January 2026.
