The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has decided to eliminate taxes on air transport beginning January 1, 2026, and to reduce passenger and safety fees by 25%.
The Commission of ECOWAS, led by Omar Alieu Touray, announced that the removal will include taxes related to airline tickets, tourism, and solidarity across all member states. Implementation will be monitored through a regional economic oversight mechanism.
Touray urged member governments not to introduce new charges to ensure the success of the reform, describing it as essential to “reviving regional integration.”
For his part, the Commission’s Director of Transport, Chris Appiah, indicated that the next step will be encouraging airlines to lower their fares once these taxes are abolished.
The decision comes after the deadline of November 30, set by ECOWAS for member states to report the regulatory measures taken to implement the reform.
