West Africa has the highest average tax burden on air passengers in Africa, with travellers paying about US$110 per departure, according to an August 2026 report by the Atlantic Council, as reported by Nairametrics. The figure is more than three times the US$32 average recorded in Europe for comparable short regional journeys, highlighting the high cost of air travel within West Africa and its potential impact on regional connectivity.
The Atlantic Council’s Opening Africa’s Skies to Trade, Growth and Jobs brief identified high taxation, restrictive regulation, blocked airline revenues and dependence on imported aviation fuel among the major constraints limiting Africa’s aviation growth. According to the report, taxes, fees and government charges account for 35–40% of African air ticket prices, compared with a global average of about 20%. For short regional flights, African passengers pay an average of $68 in taxes per departure, compared with $32 in Europe, while West Africa records the highest burden at $110.
The report warns that the burden is particularly damaging to short-haul regional travel, where fixed charges can rival or even exceed the basic airfare. On some African routes, taxes and fees can reach $60–$70 on a $100 ticket, making certain regional services commercially difficult for airlines to sustain. The Atlantic Council estimates that aviation reforms across 12 African countries could attract about 5 million additional passengers, generate $1.3 billion in additional tourism spending, create approximately 155,100 jobs, and reduce airfares by 25–35%.
The findings add to ongoing concerns over the cost of aviation in Nigeria and the wider West African market, where industry stakeholders have repeatedly called for a review of taxes, fees and regulatory charges to improve affordability and strengthen regional air connectivity.
