• Ghana introduces new airport levy raising passenger travel costs

• Airlines warn higher fees threaten demand and regional integration goals

• Rising charges across West Africa squeeze margins and ticket affordability

Ghana introduced a new airport infrastructure levy on Wednesday, adding to rising charges across West Africa that are squeezing airline margins and undermining regional integration goals.

The Airport Infrastructure Development Charge (AIDC), announced in November 2025, took effect on April 1. It is set at $100 for international passengers on round-trip tickets and 100 Ghanaian cedis ($9.09) for domestic travelers. Authorities say the levy will help fund airport infrastructure projects.

Passion Air, the country’s main domestic carrier, said it would pass the 100-cedi charge on to passengers on its routes.

The move goes against efforts by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has been pushing for months to reduce taxes and fees to make air travel more affordable.

Taxes and fees account for up to 50% of ticket prices in West Africa. Airline executives say efforts to cut them are slowed by limited political will, as governments must first formalize reductions through regulation before submitting them to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which publishes fares through the Airline Tariff Publishing Company (ATPCO).

A regional upward trend

Ghana is not alone. In December 2025, Nigeria raised immigration data processing fees by $11.50. The Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety (ASECNA) has also announced a 15% increase in en-route navigation charges, to be phased in over three years at 5% annually.

Outside the ECOWAS zone, Gabon—already the most expensive country for airport charges at $297.70 per international passenger, according to the African Airlines Association (AFRAA)—has increased its R4 infrastructure levy this year. With the new charges, Ghana could approach similar levels.

According to the Council of Airline Representatives in Ghana, departure fees now reach $173 for a one-way ticket and $243 for a round trip, moving the country from ninth to third place in Africa, behind Gabon and Sierra Leone.

Cost pressures and structural constraints

These surcharges put direct pressure on airline profitability by raising ticket prices and reducing demand. According to IATA, average profit per passenger for African carriers stood at $1.40 in 2025, far below levels in the Middle East ($28.60), Europe ($10.90) and North America ($9.80).

Cutting taxes is more complex than it appears. In many countries, these levies are a key source of funding for infrastructure maintenance, modernization and operating costs. Public-private partnerships reinforce this reliance, often allowing investors to recover their investment through user fees.

In Ghana, authorities point to ongoing and planned investments at Kotoka International Airport and several domestic airports, including a rehabilitation project in Sunyani. Future pricing policy in West African air transport will depend on governments’ ability to balance infrastructure funding needs with more affordable travel.

Henoc Dossa