• Passenger and security charges reduced by 25% on regional flights

• Reform aligns with ECOWAS plan to harmonize aviation taxes

• Measure aims to lower fares and boost airline competitiveness

The Ivorian government has approved a 25% reduction in passenger and security charges for flights within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), according to a statement issued after the Council of Ministers meeting on April 29.

The decision follows the adoption of a decree amending Articles 2 and 5 of Decree No. 2018-31 of January 17, 2018, which established aviation security charges and set the terms for their collection and distribution.

The new decree also provides for a reduction and harmonization of aviation charges, including passenger, safety, and security fees, applicable to domestic flights, flights within Africa outside ECOWAS, and international flights beyond the continent.

According to the government, the objective is to harmonize policy and improve the competitiveness of the national airline, Air Côte d’Ivoire, as well as airports open to public air traffic.

The reform is part of the implementation of a regional directive adopted by ECOWAS in December 2024, aimed at harmonizing aviation taxes across member states.

The ECOWAS Commission had indicated that, starting in January 2026, member states should eliminate certain air transport taxes and reduce passenger and security charges by 25%, in line with a supplementary act on aviation fees, taxes, and duties.

An earlier report had shown that several countries were slow to implement this measure. With this decree, Côte d’Ivoire is among the first to align with the regional directive.

Airfares within Africa remain high, not because of distance but due to heavy government charges, limited market openness, and pricing policies shaped by weak competition. As a result, passengers often face disproportionately high costs.

The ECOWAS measure aims to reduce ticket prices, increase passenger traffic, and strengthen the competitiveness of regional airlines. It also seeks to support deeper regional integration by making air travel more accessible and boosting economic and social exchanges within the bloc.

Lydie Mobio