The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has raised concern over the alarmingly high cost of air travel within the region, describing it as the highest in the world and a major setback to regional integration.
Speaking on Tuesday in Lomé, Togo, at the opening of a delocalised meeting of the ECOWAS Parliament’s Joint Committee on Infrastructure, Energy, Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources, Mr. Sédiko Douka, ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalization, revealed that airfares in West Africa are not only the most expensive globally but have also contributed to the region’s poor air travel growth.
Douka explained that recent international studies show that air transport in West Africa accounts for less than 10% of regional travel, the lowest on the continent. In contrast, North Africa records 40.4%, Southern Africa 21.4%, and East Africa 20.5%.
“This situation makes it cheaper to fly to some other African countries outside ECOWAS than to travel between two ECOWAS nations,” Douka said. “It is counterproductive for the development of our collective airspace and a serious obstacle to integration.”
Douka stated that ECOWAS is taking deliberate steps to address the issue. In line with Article 32 of the Revised ECOWAS Treaty, the regional body has been mandated to coordinate and harmonise air transport policies, programs, and projects among member states.
He recalled that in 2017, ECOWAS began a major study on a common policy for air transport fees, taxes, and charges, which was completed in 2018. This policy was later reviewed through expert and ministerial meetings in 2021, leading to the creation of a task force to explore options for reducing or eliminating certain charges.
During the 65th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, held on July 7, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria, leaders reaffirmed the need to make air travel within the region more accessible and affordable.
Following that directive, Ministers of Air Transport met in Lomé on November 8, 2024, and endorsed new guidelines aimed at reducing travel costs. Among these was the Additional Act A/SA.2/12/24 6, which outlines a common policy on air transport charges and includes an implementation strategy. This act was later approved by ECOWAS leaders during a summit on December 15, 2024.
The measures, which are scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026, include:
Elimination of non-essential taxes and charges on air travel.
A 25% reduction in passenger service and security charges.
Lowering the cost of aviation fuel.
Commitment to transparency and fairness in fee-setting, in line with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) principles.
Douka said these steps are expected to make air transport more affordable for the region’s 400 million citizens and help boost trade, tourism, and mobility among ECOWAS countries.
He also called on the Parliament to advocate for implementation among member states, stressing that the reforms require both political will and public awareness.
“The people of West Africa are counting on you to implement these community texts, which were developed and adopted with full participation from member states,” he told parliamentarians.
Another key issue raised was the need for common rules on passenger compensation in cases of flight cancellations, long delays, or denied boarding — a concern affecting many travellers across the region.
Douka stressed that implementing these reforms is vital, especially as ECOWAS marks its 50th anniversary. He said this is an opportunity to showcase the organisation’s efforts toward regional integration and bring its benefits closer to ordinary citizens.
He urged the parliamentarians to engage stakeholders across the region and promote public understanding of the upcoming changes in the air transport sector.
“Many achievements have been made in different areas of regional cooperation, but they remain unknown due to poor communication or the overly political nature of ECOWAS activities,” Douka said. “Now is the time to act and inform the people.”
With the reforms now adopted and a clear implementation date in place, the focus shifts to execution. If successful, these changes could mark a major turning point for air travel in West Africa — making it cheaper, safer, and more accessible to all.
