The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has once again expressed worry over the high cost of air travel in Africa, listing Nigeria among countries where aviation taxes and charges significantly exceed global benchmarks.
Speaking at the IATA Focus Africa Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the global aviation body noted that Nigeria, alongside Angola, Ghana, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, continues to impose aviation-related fees well above international standards.
According to IATA, aviation charges across Africa are on average 15% higher than the global average, a situation that drives up ticket prices, reduces passenger demand, and hampers regional air connectivity.
IATA particularly criticized the rising trend of Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record (API-PNR) charges, warning that such levies are further inflating operating costs for airlines. While Tanzania currently charges the world’s highest API-PNR fee at $45 one-way, Nigeria and several other African nations also maintain charges above global norms.
The association urged African governments to fully implement the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) decision of December 2025, which aims to eliminate certain aviation taxes and reduce others by 25%. It stressed that delays or partial implementation by member states could weaken the intended benefits of the reform.
In Nigeria, the concerns come amid ongoing complaints about the heavy burden of multiple levies. The country earned approximately $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.
Separately, Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace, has attributed the cancellation of its Lagos to Gatwick (London) flight on May 1, 2026, to a bird strike incident.
This development highlights the persistent challenges facing the African aviation sector, where high taxes and charges continue to undermine growth and affordability.
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