• Authorities launch national workshop to define aviation reform roadmap

• High taxes and weak connectivity weigh on sector competitiveness

• Abidjan faces rising competition from major African hubs

In Abidjan, stakeholders will hold a national workshop from April 9 to April 10 to define a roadmap to improve air transport competitiveness. The Directorate General of Air Transport (DGTA), under the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs, leads the initiative. The event will bring together public administrations, airlines, private operators, and international partners.

The ministry said authorities aim to establish a shared diagnosis and identify priority reforms to address structural constraints in the sector.

High taxation on airline tickets and carriers remains one of the main challenges. Regional authorities within ECOWAS have elevated this issue as a key reform priority in recent months. Industry operators consider the tax burden excessive, and it increases the cost of air travel from Abidjan. As a result, high costs reduce the attractiveness of destinations, including Côte d’Ivoire itself.

At the same time, limited connectivity represents another major constraint. Despite its strategic location in West Africa, Abidjan still lacks sufficient regional and intercontinental connections. The ministry said this gap slows the development of Abidjan as a transit hub.

“In an environment marked by the rise of African hubs such as Nairobi, Addis Ababa, or Casablanca, the Ivorian authorities intend to define action levers to consolidate Abidjan’s position,” the ministry said.

Therefore, competition continues to intensify across the continent, as several hubs have strengthened their positions in recent years.

Beyond economic factors, industry stakeholders also highlight gaps in service quality and passenger experience. Operators point to inefficiencies in procedures, limited operational fluidity at airports, and overall platform competitiveness as key areas for improvement, particularly in Abidjan.

The workshop should produce concrete recommendations that will feed into a national roadmap. However, implementation will determine the outcome. Authorities must translate these ambitions into tangible results, especially in sensitive areas such as taxation and regulation.

Moreover, effective coordination between public and private stakeholders will remain critical. Authorities must also secure adequate financing and maintain a stable regulatory framework to ensure successful reform execution.

This article was initially published in French by Henoc Dossa

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum