ECOWAS States Eliminate Air Travel Taxes, Reduce Charges to Boost Connectivity

West African leaders have enacted a landmark reform to significantly boost regional air connectivity, voting to completely abolish multiple air transport taxes and reduce passenger service and security charges by 25 percent. This transformative decision, made at the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government Summit in Abuja, applies to all 15 member states and will take effect from January 1, 2026, following the signing of a binding Supplementary Act. The new measures directly address the region's long-standing issue of prohibitively expensive intra-African airfares, a paradox that often made flights to Europe more affordable than travel to neighboring West African countries. Under the new regulations, a comprehensive list of national taxes and levies currently imposed on air tickets will be entirely eliminated. Additionally, the remaining passenger service charges and security fees, which typically constitute a significant portion of ticket add-ons, will see a substantial 25 percent reduction. ECOWAS leaders anticipate these reforms will drive down ticket prices, thereby stimulating tourism and business travel within the region. The initiative is also expected to strengthen local air carriers, foster increased intra-regional trade, and finally realize the bloc’s decades-old commitment to the free movement of people and goods. To ensure strict adherence and prevent any backsliding, the ECOWAS Commission will implement a new Regional Air Transport Economic Oversight Mechanism, endowed with powers to enforce these critical changes. The aviation industry and travelers have widely celebrated the decision, hailing it as a potential game-changer for West Africa’s previously underserved air transport market. Airlines and national civil aviation authorities now have a year to update their pricing systems and national regulations to align with the new framework before the mandatory cuts are implemented on January 1, 2026.