Travelers flying from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Benin paid among the highest air ticket taxes and charges anywhere in Africa in 2024, according to a comprehensive review by the African Airlines Association (AFRAA). The findings underscore a persistent imbalance: West Africa leads the continent in airfare levies, frequently surpassing averages by a wide margin. AFRAA urges governments to harmonize aviation fees with international norms, noting that excessive charges harm travelers, suppress airline growth, and degrade air connectivity.

Sky-High Charges: Numbers That Stand Out

In its 2024 Taxes and Charges Study Review, AFRAA analyzed the total of ticket taxes, fees, and airport charges applied to passengers across 54 African countries, collecting data in September 2024.

• Sierra Leone led all African nations, with $294 in departure charges—ranking first regionally and second internationally .

• Gabon topped international departures at approximately $297.7, while placing second regionally with $260 .

• Nigeria ranked third in both categories: passengers faced $180 in taxes and fees for both international and regional flights.

• Overall regional averages in West Africa came to $109.50 for international departures and $97 for regional departures—well above the continental averages of $68 and $59.05, respectively .

• Comparatively, passengers from Northern Africa paid just $25.27 on average for international flights, despite the region handling 35% of total African traffic .

These disparities reflect a broader trend: African travelers incur about 3.5 separate taxes per ticket, compared to 2.53 in Europe and 2.69 in the Middle East.

Why Air Travel Costs This Much

AFRAA highlights several structural reasons for inflated costs:

1. Non-compliance with ICAO norms: Many African states impose taxes and non-operational fees beyond cost recovery, contravening ICAO guidelines calling for transparency and cost-related charges.

2. Fragmented tax regimes: Inconsistent levy systems across countries hamper regional harmonization and inflate cumulative fees .

3. Heavy reliance on aviation revenues: Governments often depend on airport taxes and fees to fund infrastructure—using travelers as a de facto revenue stream.

4. High operational burden: In West and Central Africa, aviation costs—driven by complex, overlapping charges—dwarf those in other regions .

These hurdles stoke ticket prices, curtail airline profitability, and blunt the development of intra-African connectivity .

Voices of Concern: Who Pays the Price?

Industry leaders and passengers have expressed frustration over the burden:

• Dr. Kingsley Nwokoma, speaking for foreign airlines in Nigeria, said:                                      “Nigeria is one of the most expensive countries in Africa to do aviation business… It’s more expensive to fly from Nigeria to Togo or Yaoundé than … to Europe in some cases.”

• Local analysts warn that the multiple fees push travelers to use neighboring countries with more competitive rates, losing both tourism and cargo business .

• Comparison across Africa finds fees in Africa nearly double those in Europe ($30) and the Middle East ($30), while African average taxes approach $64—highlighting the excessive cost burden .

• Reddit users in other African countries report similar frustrations:

  “Africa is one of the most expensive places on Earth to fly. This is holding the continent back.”

Regional Push for Reform

ECOWAS now leads regional efforts to curb the cost burden. In November 2024, West African air ministers endorsed a strategy to eliminate non-compliant aviation taxes and slash passenger and security charges by 25% starting January 1, 2026.

Key components include:

• Abolishing taxes that fall outside ICAO guidelines (e.g., unrelated tourism levies).

• Harmonizing fee structures across member states.

• Enforcing reduction through a regional oversight committee.

• Encouraging airports to modernize and increase non-aeronautical revenue streams.

ECOWAS projects this measure could boost air travel demand by 40%, unlocking an additional $500 million in annual revenue.

AFRAA’s Broader Advocacy

AFRAA champions similar reforms continent-wide:

• Its 4-pillar approach promotes adherence to ICAO processes, tax reduction, service privatization, and strategic partnerships to drive cost-efficiency.

• The Air Transport Sustainability Laboratory, held in Nairobi in 2022, produced a roadmap for tax and charge reduction and SSA market liberalization.

• Secretary-General Abdérahmane Berthé stressed that excessive charges—making up over 40% of base fares—threaten airline viability and derail African aviation growth.

Reaping the Rewards of Lower Charges

Reducing fees can spark a virtuous cycle:

• Affordability drives up passenger numbers and airline traffic.

• Increased traffic enables economies of scale, helping airlines secure better leases and operational terms.

• Regional integration gets a boost as intra-African routes become more viable.

• Tourism and trade flourish, contributing to broader economic development.

What’s Next: The Road to Cheaper Skies

1. By January 2026, expect the first round of ECOWAS fee reductions. Monitoring bodies will ensure transparency and pass-through to travelers.

2. African governments across regions will face pressure to align with ICAO principles—reducing non-cost-based levies and harmonizing fees.

3. Airlines will need to renegotiate contracts, simplify route operations, and promote travelers toward lower-cost hubs.

4. Market outcomes—including ticket flows and airport revenues—will serve as metrics for success. If demand surges, Africa could reach a tipping point in aviation expansion.

A Final Take

The 2024 AFRAA data confirm a persistent pattern: West African travelers—especially from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Benin—bear some of the world’s highest ticket taxes. While Africa lags behind Northern, Eastern, and Southern regions, regional reforms led by ECOWAS and broader AFRAA advocacy offer hope for change.

Lowering and standardizing ticket charges in compliance with ICAO standards won’t happen overnight. Still, it represents a critical step toward affordable connectivity—unlocking travel, trade, business, and regional integration that have long eluded the continent.