With airport taxes and fees generally above average, West Africa is considered as one of the most expensive regions to travel by air. This problem, which is added to other challenges disrupting the development of the sector, has become one of the priorities of ECOWAS. So to remedy this, ECOWAS organized a 3-day meeting aimed at promoting the growth of the tourism and commercial sector.
Since November 5, 2024, Ministers of Aviation, directors of civil authorities and representatives of the airline industry from Africa have been meeting in Lomé, Togo, to debate on the means to reduce the cost of plane tickets and in improving connectivity in West Africa. Organized by the economic community of West African States, this initiative is issued to strengthen regional connectivity while facilitating economic exchanges and population mobility.
“The challenge we face in air transport today is the fact that air transport services are expensive and therefore we need to bring prices down so that we can scale. We also talk about security, we need secure air transport”
Abderrahmane Berthé, Secretary General, African Airlines Association – Mali
According to studies carried out by ECOWAS, high taxation in the region including airport fees, navigation fees and government taxes significantly increase the cost of tickets and slows down the development of civil aviation. This financial weight makes local airlines less competitive compared to foreign carriers. According to ECOWAS, the reduction in transport costs will promote the growth of the tourist and trade sector, but also improve access to essential services such as health and education.
“Trade will increase air transport and air transport is an infrastructure that is necessary to also develop trade in Africa. We know that African countries do not trade enough with each other and the exchange rate is currently less than 20 percent”
Abderrahmane Berthé, Secretary General, African Airlines Association – Mali
Discussions also focused on ways to reduce operational burdens on airlines, harmonize safety standards, and thus increase the accessibility of regional flights. It should be remembered that the ECOWAS initiative also comes in a context where Africa is seeking to create the Single African Air Transport Market (MUTAA), presented as one of the main catalysts for the AFCFTA.
