By Alex Adi
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced new measures to reduce the cost of air travel across the region.
The landmark decision comes after a meeting by the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government Summit held in Abuja in December 2024.
Per the adopted Supplementary Act on Aviation Charges, Taxes and Fees, all ECOWAS Member States will abolish air transport taxes and reduce passenger and security charges by 25 percent, effective January 1, 2026.
The reform seeks to address long-standing concerns regarding the high cost of flying within West Africa, which has impacted tourism, trade, and the free movement of people and goods.
Implementation of the measures will be supervised by the ECOWAS Commission through a Regional Air Transport Economic Oversight Mechanism.
The expected outcomes include lower airfares, increased passenger traffic, strengthened regional airlines, and deeper regional integration.
