ECOWAS to Cut Airfare Taxes Across West Africa From 2026
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced sweeping reforms aimed at reducing the high cost of air travel across the region, with all air transport taxes between member states set to be eliminated from the first quarter of 2026. The decision was formally announced on December 10, 2025, and marks one of the most significant aviation policy shifts in West Africa in recent years.
Under the directive, ECOWAS member countries will abolish a range of charges that have long inflated ticket prices. These include ticket taxes, tourism taxes, solidarity levies, and foreign travel taxes applied to intra-regional flights. The policy, which was initially approved by ECOWAS heads of state in December 2024, is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.
In addition to scrapping these taxes entirely, the bloc has agreed to cut passenger service charges and aviation security fees by 25%. ECOWAS said the combined measures are intended to make air travel more affordable, stimulate demand, and improve connectivity within the 15-nation regional bloc.
Airfare costs in West Africa are among the highest in the world relative to average income levels, largely due to layered taxes, fees, and charges imposed by governments and airport authorities. Industry groups and airlines have long argued that these costs suppress demand, limit route development, and hinder economic integration across the region.
The new policy is expected to benefit both passengers and airlines operating intra-ECOWAS services. Carriers likely to be affected include Air Peace, Air Sénégal, ASKY Airlines, Air Côte d’Ivoire, Africa World Airlines, and Cabo Verde Airlines, along with several smaller regional operators. Lower taxes and charges could improve route profitability, encourage airlines to add frequencies or new city pairs, and help stabilize financially constrained carriers.
ECOWAS officials said the reform aligns with broader regional goals to boost trade, tourism, and labor mobility, as well as with the African Union’s Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) initiative, which aims to liberalize air travel across the continent. By lowering fiscal barriers, the bloc hopes to unlock latent demand for short-haul regional travel and make flying a more viable alternative to long and often unreliable road journeys.
While the announcement has been welcomed by airlines and aviation stakeholders, successful implementation will depend on consistent adoption by individual member states. Past efforts to harmonize aviation charges in the region have faced delays due to fiscal concerns and uneven enforcement.
If fully implemented as planned from early 2026, the ECOWAS tax cuts could mark a turning point for regional aviation, improving affordability, strengthening airline networks, and supporting deeper economic integration across West Africa.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com