In 2024, international travellers departing from African airports continued to pay some of the highest air travel charges globally, according to the African Airlines Association (AFRAA). A new report from the association’s 2024 Taxes and Charges Study reveals that passengers paid an average of $68 in taxes, charges, and fees per international departure, an increase from $66 in 2022.

The report, based on data compiled by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in September 2024, found that these charges include an average of 3.5 levies per ticket. These levies encompass a combination of government-imposed taxes, airport service fees, and cost-recovery charges by air navigation service providers. While some levies directly relate to services provided during travel, others are simply mechanisms for revenue generation by state authorities.

Despite longstanding recommendations by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) under the 1944 Chicago Convention to limit such taxes and ensure transparent charge structures, African countries have continued to increase departure-related fees. This growing fiscal burden has raised concerns over the region’s competitiveness in global aviation.

Among the continent’s regions, West Africa reported the highest average ticket charges at $109.5—up from $96.5 in 2022. Central Africa followed closely at $106.6, reflecting a $10 jump within two years. These averages highlight the financial pressures faced by African travellers even as the region seeks to improve air connectivity and promote intra-African travel under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Below is a detailed look at the top 10 African countries with the highest international ticket charges in 2024, including comparative insights from 2022.

10. Chad – $105.70

Chad ranked 10th in 2024, with international ticket charges averaging $105.70. This marks a substantial decrease from $129.30 in 2022, when it ranked 4th. The 18.23% reduction represents the most significant drop among the countries listed. Chad’s only international airport, N’Djamena International, handles all outbound international traffic, and the reduction suggests a recalibration of its aviation fee structure.

9. Democratic Republic of the Congo – $109.90

The DRC dropped from 6th position in 2022 to 9th in 2024, thanks to a 11.48% decline in charges from $124.20 to $109.90. The country’s primary international gateways include N’djili Airport in Kinshasa and Goma International Airport. This decrease signals a possible government effort to make international travel more accessible.

8. Ghana – $111.50

Ghana entered the top 10 with an average charge of $111.50 in 2024. Though not featured in the 2022 top rankings, the country has seen incremental increases in levies at its main international gateway, Kotoka International Airport in Accra. These charges reflect a mix of passenger service fees and government taxes.

7. Liberia – $115.00

Holding the 7th spot in 2024, Liberia maintained the same $115.00 charge recorded in 2022, although it climbed from 8th place due to movements in other countries’ rankings. The country’s sole international airport, Roberts International, serves Monrovia and is responsible for all outbound international flights. Its unchanged fee structure indicates a stable aviation cost policy.

6. Benin Republic – $123.40

Making a surprise entry into the top 10, Benin Republic ranked 6th with charges of $123.40 in 2024. Absent from the 2022 rankings, its climb reflects a likely introduction of new levies or a substantial increase in existing fees at Cotonou Cadjehoun Airport, the country’s sole international facility. The surge in charges could hinder Benin’s tourism and trade efforts.

5. Niger – $130.70

Niger saw its average charges drop by 11.85% from $148.30 in 2022 to $130.70 in 2024. Despite this reduction, the country retained a high cost burden and remained within the top five. Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey remains Niger’s central point for international air travel, and the cost reductions might be part of efforts to stimulate passenger growth.

4. Djibouti – $168.70

Once ranked the most expensive departure point in Africa, Djibouti now ranks 4th in 2024 after lowering its average charges by 8.49%, from $184.40 in 2022 to $168.70. The decrease could be part of a broader strategy to attract more airlines and passengers to Djibouti–Ambouli International Airport. Despite the reduction, the country still remains in the top tier of high-cost aviation markets.

3. Nigeria – $180.00

Nigeria recorded a sharp 50.00% increase in international air ticket charges, surging from $120.00 in 2022 to $180.00 in 2024. This move elevated the country from 7th to 3rd place. With major international gateways such as Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International and Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International, Nigeria’s higher charges likely reflect regulatory revisions and cost-recovery efforts amidst infrastructural upgrades and operational demands.

2. Sierra Leone – $294.00

Sierra Leone’s charges more than doubled, jumping from $139.00 in 2022 to $294.00 in 2024—an astonishing 111.51% increase. This rise moved the country from 3rd to 2nd in the rankings. Freetown International Airport in Lungi remains the country’s primary international departure point. The steep escalation in charges could impact air travel demand and raises questions about the transparency and rationale behind such drastic increases.

1. Gabon – $297.70

Topping the list for the first time, Gabon emerged as the most expensive African country for international air travel in 2024, with charges averaging $297.70. Not listed among the top 10 in 2022, this represents a dramatic rise. Léon-Mba International Airport in Libreville is the nation’s central hub for international flights. The sharp increase suggests either the introduction of new government levies or changes in cost structures passed on to passengers.

Broader Implications for African Aviation

The continued rise in taxes and charges across Africa’s aviation industry poses a significant challenge to both local and international travel. The high cost of flying remains a deterrent to air connectivity, tourism growth, and trade across the continent. It also raises the risk of pricing African airlines out of competitiveness as they face growing competition from global carriers operating in less costly environments.

AFRAA, along with international bodies like IATA and ICAO, continues to advocate for more transparent, harmonized, and affordable fee structures. These organizations emphasize that aviation should be seen as an economic enabler rather than a revenue source for taxation.

As African nations work toward achieving the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and improving regional connectivity under AfCFTA, addressing the burden of excessive charges will be critical. Without reform, the continent risks undermining its goals of unlocking intra-African trade and mobility.

For now, passengers continue to absorb the costs, even as calls grow louder for governments to rethink the fiscal models that make African skies some of the most expensive to fly in the world.