By Favour Ulebor, Abuja
The Financial Neighborhood of West African States (ECOWAS) has accredited sweeping reforms aimed toward decreasing the excessive price of air journey throughout the area.
In an announcement issued on Wednesday, the ECOWAS Fee mentioned that Heads of State and Authorities, at their December 2024 Summit in Abuja, adopted a coverage to take away taxes on air transport and cut back passenger and safety costs by 25 per cent, efficient from January 1, 2026.
The Fee mentioned the transfer adopted years of gradual development in West Africa’s aviation sector, largely attributable to extreme taxes, costs and charges that suppress journey demand and weaken funding in airport infrastructure.
Research by ECOWAS, the African Union, the African Airways Affiliation (AFRAA) and the Worldwide Air Transport Affiliation (IATA) confirmed that West Africa stays one of the vital costly areas to fly, with passengers generally paying as much as 66 separate costs, whereas airways face greater than 100 completely different charges.
ECOWAS warned that top airfares discourage passenger motion, gradual tourism, hinder commerce and undermine its free motion and regional integration agenda.
In accordance with the assertion, the adoption of the Supplementary Act on Aviation Prices, Taxes and Charges is designed to deal with these structural challenges and align the area with worldwide aviation requirements.
The organisation mentioned the reforms are anticipated to decrease ticket costs, improve passenger visitors, strengthen regional airways, increase airport operations and create extra financial alternatives for host communities.
Member states have been directed to amend their nationwide legal guidelines and insurance policies to make sure full implementation, whereas airways are anticipated to move the associated fee reductions on to passengers.
ECOWAS added that it’s going to monitor compliance by way of a brand new Regional Air Transport Financial Oversight Mechanism and assist complementary initiatives resembling joint plane upkeep amenities and harmonised aviation security requirements.
The Fee mentioned the reforms might cut back ticket costs by as a lot as 40 per cent, deepen regional integration and make air journey extra reasonably priced for households, companies and communities throughout West Africa, whereas strengthening the long-term income base of the aviation sector.
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