The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says it will eliminate all air ticket taxes across the region starting January 1, 2026, in a move expected to sharply reduce airfares and strengthen connectivity among member states.
ECOWAS Director of Transport and Communications Chris Appiah confirmed the decision during an interview at the Council of Ministers’ meeting in Abuja. Okay News reports that the policy is part of a wider transport reform approved by the Heads of State and Government in December 2024.
Appiah said multiple studies conducted over nearly ten years show West Africa has the highest air travel costs on the continent, with taxes and charges accounting for up to 70 percent of ticket prices. “From 1st January 2026, the Heads of State have agreed that all member states should remove taxes on air transport,” he said.
He added that the taxes violate International Civil Aviation Organisation guidelines and suppress travel demand. He stated that affordable air transport is central to regional integration, noting that traders sometimes pay more than $3,000 for a Lagos–Dakar trip because of fees.
Appiah said ECOWAS is already engaging airlines to ensure that the tax removal leads to a corresponding reduction in fares. He noted that other African regions offer cheaper travel because they impose fewer aviation charges.
The organisation is also working with national parliaments and aviation authorities to ensure seamless implementation of the policy by January 2026. ECOWAS leaders described the decision as a landmark step that could revive the region’s struggling air transport sector, which has experienced slow growth due to heavy taxation.
The announcement comes during a tense period for the bloc. Earlier this week, ECOWAS declared a state of emergency over rising coups, and it also ordered the deployment of its standby force to Benin following a foiled attempt to seize power.
