Faith Nyasuguta
Air travel in West Africa remains the most expensive in the world, and this is threatening regional integration and economic growth, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has warned.
The ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation, Sediko Douka, raised the concern at the Sixth Legislature ECOWAS Parliament Delocalised Meeting of the Joint Committee on Infrastructure, Energy and Mines, Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources in Lome, Togo.
Douka said that airfare between West African nations is disproportionately high when compared to similar flight distances across the continent and globally. In many cases, it is cheaper to fly outside the region than to travel between neighboring ECOWAS countries.
“The air tariff in West Africa remains excessively high compared to other countries in the world,” he said. “In this case, it is less expensive to make the flight to another African country than to travel between two countries in ECOWAS. This situation is counterproductive for the future of the West African region and the collective airspace.”
Douka also revealed that air transport usage in the region is still below 10 percent, the lowest in Africa. In contrast, recent studies from 2024 show higher growth elsewhere, North Africa at 40.4 percent, Southern Africa at 21.4 percent, and East Africa at 20.5 percent.
This underperformance, he noted, underscores West Africa’s failure to develop a competitive and affordable regional air transport system. He attributed this gap to fragmented aviation policies and called for the harmonisation of regulations and strategies among member states.
Douka referenced Article 32 of the Revised ECOWAS Treaty, which gives the Commission authority to coordinate air transport strategies, policies, and programs across member states. He said the implementation of shared aviation frameworks could reduce costs, improve regional connectivity, and boost passenger volumes.
He further urged the ECOWAS joint committee to push for the adoption of common passenger rights across the region. These would include compensation frameworks for flight cancellations, significant delays, and denied boarding, similar to existing protections in Europe and other developed aviation markets.
Douka said regional collaboration and policy alignment are critical to unlocking the full economic and social benefits of air travel in West Africa. Without immediate reforms, the region risks falling further behind in aviation development, which is essential for trade, tourism, and integration across the continent.
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