The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has identified Nigeria as one of several African nations where aviation taxes and charges exceed global averages, raising concerns about the rising cost of air travel across the continent.
The disclosure was made during IATA’s Focus Africa Conference held in Addis Ababa, where the body noted that countries such as Angola, Ghana, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo also impose charges above international benchmarks.
According to IATA, aviation-related costs in Africa are about 15 per cent higher than the global average. It warned that this trend continues to drive up ticket prices, reduce passenger demand, and weaken air connectivity across the region.
The association highlighted that the high-cost environment remains a major challenge to the competitiveness of African aviation, especially in West Africa, where both airlines and travellers face significant financial burdens.
IATA also cautioned against the growing use of Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record (API-PNR) charges, urging governments to reconsider such policies. It noted that while Tanzania currently has the highest API-PNR charge globally at $45 for a one-way trip, Nigeria and other African countries are also imposing fees above global norms.
The body further called for the full implementation of the December 2025 directive by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which aims to eliminate certain aviation taxes and reduce others by 25 per cent. It warned that delays or inconsistent adoption of these reforms could limit their effectiveness.
In Nigeria’s case, concerns have grown over the cumulative impact of multiple aviation levies. The country generated about $62 million from airline ticket taxes in 2024 and introduced an additional $11.50 security levy under its Advance Passenger Information System in December 2025, bringing total security-related charges on international tickets to $31.50.
Meanwhile, Air Peace also addressed a recent disruption involving its Lagos–Gatwick flight on May 1, 2026, attributing the cancellation to a bird strike.
