ECOWAS Moves to Slash Air Travel Costs Across West Africa by 2026

By Joylinda Laryea / 11 December 2025, 

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has approved a major policy reform aimed at making air travel more affordable across the region, with significant cuts to aviation taxes and charges set to take effect from 1 January 2026.

The decision, adopted by Heads of State and Government during the ECOWAS Summit held in December 2024 in Abuja, mandates all Member States to abolish air transport taxes and reduce passenger and security charges by 25 percent. The reform is anchored in a new Supplementary Act on Aviation Charges, Taxes and Fees.

For years, the high cost of air travel in West Africa has been a barrier to tourism growth, regional trade, and the free movement of people and goods. Airlines and passengers alike have voiced concerns that excessive taxes and charges have made intra-regional flights among the most expensive globally.

With the new measures, ECOWAS expects a significant reduction in airfares, which could stimulate passenger traffic, enhance the competitiveness of regional carriers, and deepen economic integration across Member States.

To ensure effective implementation, the ECOWAS Commission will oversee progress through a Regional Air Transport Economic Oversight Mechanism. The monitoring system will track compliance, evaluate the impact on the aviation market, and guide further policy interventions where necessary.

The reform marks one of the most ambitious steps taken by ECOWAS in recent years to create a more connected, mobile, and economically vibrant West African region.