Passengers flying out of Nigeria face some of the highest air travel taxes and fees on the African continent, paying an average of $180 per international departure, according to the 2024 Taxes and Charges Study Review by the African Airlines Association (AFRAA). This places Nigeria third behind Gabon, where passengers pay nearly $298, and Sierra Leone at $294.
The report highlights that West Africa leads the continent in air travel costs, with an average of $109.50 in taxes and fees for international departures and $97 for regional flights. These charges include airport taxes, navigation fees, security levies, and other service charges, which significantly increase the cost of flying for travelers.
Other countries with high international departure fees include Djibouti ($168.70), Niger ($130.70), Benin ($123.40), Senegal ($122.60), Liberia ($115), Ghana ($111.50), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo ($109.90). The study reveals that passengers in these countries pay well above the continental average of $68 for international flights.
The high costs are attributed to fragmented tax regimes, government reliance on aviation revenue, and the perception of air travel as a luxury service. These excessive charges discourage travel, limit regional connectivity, and hinder the growth of Africa’s aviation sector.
In contrast, Northern African countries enjoy much lower fees, averaging $25.27, despite handling a significant portion of the continent’s air traffic. The report calls for harmonization of taxes and fees, reduction of excessive charges, and exploration of alternative funding mechanisms to make air travel more affordable and boost economic integration across Africa.
