Passengers departing from Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Benin paid Africa's highest airline taxes and fees in 2024, placing West Africa at the top of the continent's air travel costs.
Sierra Leone ranked first in regional departures, with a price of $294, and the second was ranked internationally at the same rate.
Gabon broke through the international category at $297.7 and ranked second in Regional for $260. Nigeria ranked third in both categories, with passengers paying $180 each for international and regional departures.
These findings were detailed in the 2024 Tax and Fees Research Review by the African Aviation Association (AFRAA) based on data collected in September 2024 in 54 African countries. The report showed that West Africa recorded the highest average collection on the continent.
“In the top 10 countries with the most expensive prices in terms of ticket tax, billing and fees, Gabon (US$297.7) will be first followed by Sierra Leone (US$294.0) and Nigeria (US$180.0).
“When considering the African subregion, the West Africa region is the most expensive, with an average of USD 109.5 USD of taxes, bills and fees paid for international departures (USD 96.5 USD in 2022; Central Africa averages USD 106.6 USD, with a continued increase of USD 10 compared to 2022,” the report read in part.
“Sierra Leone (USD 294) is the first in the top 10 countries with the most expensive in terms of ticket tax, fees and fees, followed by Gabon (USD 260) and Nigeria (USD 180).
“When considering the African subregion, the West Africa region is the most expensive, showing an average tax, billing, regional departure fees and regional departure fees of $97, compared to an increase of $16.8 in 2024.
The report analyzed the total taxes, fees and fees added to tickets based on data collected in September 2024, and was directly handled by passengers from 54 African countries. Countries such as Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Benin were consistent among the top 10 most expensive for both international and regional travel.
These costs are well above the international Africa average of $68 and the regional departures of $59.05. By comparison, North African passengers paid an average of only $25.27 for international travel, despite accounting for the region, which accounts for 35% of the continent's total air transport.
More insights
The AFRAA report focused on the burden of rising burdens placed on African travelers. Passengers in Africa paid 3.5 separate taxes and fees per international ticket, compared with an average of 2.53 in Europe and 2.69 in the Middle East.
The study highlights major concerns, as laid out by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), broad non-compliance with international standards on aviation tax and cost recovery. Air fares stipulate that airline rates are cost-related, transparent, non-discriminatory, and require consultations beyond consultation with service users. Costs – often use them as revenue generating tools. According to this approach, this approach was detrimental to the profitability of the airline, affordability for passengers, and the broader goal of expanding air connectivity across Africa.
The association urged African governments to review and harmonize the aviation tax system, reduce reliance on passenger rates, fund infrastructure, and consider alternative financing models.
