Nigeria placed 3rd in Africa for highest Air Ticket charges in 2024 – New Report
West Africa topped the continent’s ranks for air travel expenses in 2024, with passengers leaving from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Benin paying some of the highest air ticket taxes and fees.
Sierra Leone ranked second for international departures, at $294, and first for regional departures.
Gabon placed second in the regional division with $260 and first in the international division with $297.7. With travelers paying $180 for both international and regional departures, Nigeria came in third place in both categories.
These conclusions, which were based on data gathered in 54 African nations in September 2024, were described in detail in the African Airlines Association’s (AFRAA) 2024 Taxes and Charges Study Review. According to the survey, West Africa had the highest average levies on the continent, with regional flights costing $97 and international departures costing $109.5.
Gabon (USD 297.7) is the most costly country in the top ten in terms of ticket taxes, charges, and fees, followed by Sierra Leone (USD 294.0) and Nigeria (USD 180.0).
With an average of USD 109.5 in taxes, charges, and fees paid for foreign departures (USD 96.5 in 2022), the Western African area is the most costly of the African subregions. Central Africa comes next, with $106.6
The research stated, “on average, an increase of USD 10 compared to 2022.”
It went on to say, “Serra Leone (USD 294) is the most expensive country in the top ten in terms of ticket taxes, charges, and fees, followed by Gabon (USD 260) and Nigeria (USD 180).”
The Western African subregion is the most costly when looking at African subregions; taxes, charges, and fees paid for regional departures average USD 97, up from USD 80.2 in 2022 and USD 16.8 in 2024. Central Africa comes in second, with an average of USD 85.9, up USD 4 from 2022.
The report, based on data collected in September 2024, analyzed the sum of taxes, fees, and charges added to air tickets and borne directly by passengers across 54 African countries.
Countries like Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Benin were consistently among the top ten most expensive for both international and regional travel—further driving up West Africa’s regional average.
These costs far exceed the African average of $68 for international and $59.05 for regional departures. By comparison, passengers in Northern Africa paid just $25.27 on average for international travel, despite the region accounting for 35% of total continental air traffic.
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The AFRAA report drew attention to the mounting burden placed on African travelers. On average, passengers in Africa paid for 3.5 separate taxes and charges per international ticket, compared to 2.53 in Europe and 2.69 in the Middle East, where traffic volumes were significantly higher and costs lower.
- The study also highlighted a major concern: widespread non-compliance with international standards on aviation taxation and cost recovery, as laid out by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
- ICAO policies stipulated that aviation charges must be cost-related, transparent, non-discriminatory, and subject to consultation with service users.
- However, AFRAA found that many African states continued to impose taxes and charges beyond what was required to cover operational costs—often using them as a revenue generation tool. This approach, the report warned, was detrimental to airline profitability, passenger affordability, and the broader goal of expanding air connectivity across Africa.
Nigeria placed 3rd in Africa for highest Air Ticket charges in 2024 – New Report
The association urged African governments to review and harmonize their aviation tax regimes, reduce reliance on passenger charges to fund infrastructure, and consider alternative financing models.
