Air travel across West Africa is set for major relief as ECOWAS announced that, effective January 1, 2026, all air transport taxes will be removed and aviation charges cut by 25 per cent— a move expected to slash regional airfares by more than 20 per cent.
Director of Transport and Telecommunications, Chris Appiah, said the decision followed a decade-long study showing West Africa had the continent’s highest air transport costs, with taxes and charges accounting for up to 70 per cent of ticket prices.
He added that the new policy aligns with ECOWAS’ integration agenda and is expected to boost connectivity and economic growth.
In a separate development, the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (NATCA) has petitioned the National Executive Council of ATSSSAN, accusing FAAN of violating the union’s financial rules through prolonged non-remittance of mandatory dues.
Citing multiple provisions of the ATSSSAN constitution, NATCA demanded FAAN’s suspension from all activities and called for an investigative audit into its dues-remittance history, warning that neglecting constitutional rules threatens the union’s integrity.
Meanwhile, IATA disclosed that $1.2 billion in airline revenues remained trapped globally as of October 2025, with 93 per cent locked in Africa and the Middle East.
Ten countries account for most of the blocked funds, with Algeria topping the list at $307 million.
IATA’s Director-General, Willie Walsh, urged governments to remove restrictions on currency repatriation, stressing that trapped revenues undermine airline operations and regional connectivity.
To strengthen aviation safety and efficiency, the Federal Government approved a nationwide upgrade of communication and navigational systems, including installation of A-SMGCS in Lagos and Abuja, new modular control towers in eight airports, frequency-monitoring systems, and upgraded VHF radio infrastructure.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, also announced the deployment of biometric e-gates at all international airports to speed up passenger processing and improve travel experience.