The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has raised concern over the exorbitant cost of air travel within the West African subregion, labeling it the most expensive in the world and a serious obstacle to regional integration.
Speaking at the opening of the Sixth Legislature ECOWAS Parliament Delocalised Meeting of the Joint Committee on Infrastructure, Energy and Mines, Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources in Lomé, Togo, ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation, Mr. Sédiko Douka, drew attention to the stark disparity in airfares across regions.
Douka pointed out that flying between West African countries is often more costly than traveling longer distances to destinations outside the region. This pricing trend, he said, undermines efforts to enhance regional connectivity and hinders the development of a cohesive airspace.
“It is cheaper in many cases to travel to other parts of Africa or abroad than to move between ECOWAS countries,” he noted. “This reality is a major setback for regional development and integration.”
The commissioner revealed that air travel usage within West Africa remains below 10 percent — the lowest on the continent — while other regions report significantly higher figures. In contrast, North Africa sees 40.4 percent, Southern Africa 21.4 percent, and East Africa 20.5 percent in usage growth, based on 2024 findings by international aviation bodies.
Douka emphasized the urgency of harmonizing aviation policies across ECOWAS Member States, citing Article 32 of the Revised ECOWAS Treaty. This article entrusts the ECOWAS Commission with the responsibility of aligning air transport policies, programs, and projects to facilitate regional connectivity and reduce operational costs.
He further called on the joint committee to advocate for unified regulations concerning passenger rights across the region. This includes rules on compensation for denied boarding, flight cancellations, and long delays.
Douka concluded that without immediate action, the region will continue to lag behind other African blocs in air travel development, further stalling economic integration and cross-border mobility.
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