The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has renewed its commitment to making air travel more affordable and accessible across the region, calling on member states to accelerate efforts to reduce taxes, passenger service charges and security fees imposed on air transport.
The call was contained in an ECOWAS Declaration on Air Transport issued on July 18, 2026, in which the regional authority reiterated its resolve to sustain efforts aimed at reducing the cost of air transportation in West Africa.
The Authority specifically commended Côte d’Ivoire for being the only ECOWAS member state to have so far removed the applicable taxes in line with the regional decision on air transport affordability.
It subsequently urged other member states to expedite the necessary national processes required to implement the decision.
These processes, according to the declaration, include cross-sectoral consultations, the revision of relevant tax laws, sensitisation of stakeholders and airport service providers, as well as compliance with the Authority’s decision on taxes applicable to air transport and the reduction of passenger service and security charges.
The move is expected to address some of the major cost barriers affecting air travel within the region, where high taxes and airport-related charges have often been identified as contributing factors to expensive airfares and limited connectivity.
ECOWAS also expressed appreciation to its Commission for the successful establishment of the Regional Air Transport Economic Oversight Committee, which is expected to monitor implementation of the decision and undertake high-level engagements with member states.
The committee is expected to play a key role in encouraging countries to move faster towards the uniform implementation of measures designed to make air transportation more affordable across the ECOWAS region.
The Authority also called on major regional and international development finance institutions, including the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), the African Development Bank and Afreximbank, as well as other development partners, to collaborate with the ECOWAS Commission in mobilising multilateral funding.
The funding, it said, should support the improvement of air transport infrastructure and services in member states that take concrete steps to comply with the ECOWAS decision aimed at making air travel more affordable and accessible to citizens of the Community.
The declaration comes amid growing calls for stronger regional air connectivity to support tourism, trade, investment and economic integration in West Africa.
ECOWAS believes that reducing the cost of air transport, alongside investment in aviation infrastructure and services, will help facilitate the movement of people and goods, strengthen regional economic cooperation and unlock greater opportunities for citizens and businesses across the region.
The regional body’s renewed push also places pressure on member states to translate the ECOWAS decision into concrete national action, with Côte d’Ivoire’s move serving as an example for other countries to follow.
