Nigeria and other countries in West Africa have opened discussions on the current high air travel fares in the sub-region with a view to coming up with strategic plans to reduce the rising air travel costs, which are among the highest globally.
Current data on air travels in West Africa showed that charges, taxes and fees represented almost 50% of the total air ticket costs.
The purpose of the deliberations, which kicked off with the meeting of the ECOWAS Air Transport Ministers in Lomé, Togo, a few days ago, is to harmonize through a regional Supplementary Act, aviation charges, taxes and fees in line with international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
At the high-level meeting, the Ministers also considered a proposal for compensation to passengers in the case of excessive flight delays.
The parley was sequel to the outcomes of experts’ consultations held earlier in the week, which focused on formulating strategies to ensure more affordable, efficient and secured air transport services to support regional connectivity and promote deeper economic integration.
According to reports from the meeting, the discussions focused on developing concrete strategies and common policies to lower air travel costs, which are currently among the highest globally.
The latest initiative of the Air Transport ministers in the sub-region also aligned with the directive issued by the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government during their 65th Ordinary Session in July 2024, which called for decisive actions to reduce air transport costs and improve accessibility for citizens throughout West Africa.
In his remarks at the latest meeting, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalization, Mr. Sédiko Douka, emphasized that “high air travel costs in West Africa serve as a barrier to trade and regional integration. Aligning our aviation taxes with global standards is imperative to make air travel more accessible and competitive.”
Similarly, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure of the Togolese Republic, Hon. Sani Yaya, officially who formally declared the meeting open, reinforced the call for collaborative action, stating that harmonizing aviation charges and enhancing security will attract vital investments, bolster tourism, and strengthen economic cooperation among ECOWAS member-states.
The meeting further reflected that the Ministers were actively working towards establishing a unified regional framework aimed at reducing airfares, thereby making air travel more affordable for both citizens and businesses and to travel by air will not come as a lux.
The key priorities of the proposed framework include eliminating all taxes as not in line with ICAO recommendations and reducing by 25 per cent two main charges (passengers and security).
According to the ministers, the decisions at the meeting aim to optimize fees and ensure that aviation security protocols meet international best practices.
Specifically, they projected that these reforms, which must be applied by all member-states of the ECOWAS before 1st January 2026, would help to drive passenger traffic, stimulate economic growth, and facilitate the free movement of people, goods, and services within the region, ultimately deepening regional integration.
In addition, another take away from the meeting is that within a 1-year transition period, countries will make the necessary fiscal provisions and national-level preparations to ensure a smooth take-off.
The ECOWAS and other partners will also pursue accompanying measures, including resource mobilization to support projects in countries, the establishment of a regional Oversight Committee to monitor adherence and implement other support projects like the regional aircraft leasing company and a regional aircraft maintenance centre to support airlines have access to cheaper services in West Africa.
The ministers concluded their deliberations with agreed recommendations to be presented to the ECOWAS Council of Ministers and Heads of State Summit in December 2024.
