ECOWAS is set to convene from November 5-8, 2024, in Lomé, Togo, for critical meetings aimed at reforming air transport across West Africa. This initiative responds to directives from the 65th Heads of State Summit in July 2024 and seeks to address ongoing challenges in the aviation sector, with a focus on reducing operational costs and harmonizing safety protocols to boost regional connectivity and economic collaboration.
The meetings will kick off with expert-level consultations before culminating in a high-level ministerial session on November 8. Participants will discuss strategies to lower aviation fees and taxes while standardizing safety measures, enhancing the accessibility and affordability of air travel. These reforms align with ECOWAS’s objective to deepen regional integration through improved connectivity, mobility, and trade.
Current assessments indicate that excessive charges from Airport Operators, Air Navigation Service Providers, and government-imposed taxes severely hinder the aviation industry and broader economic development in the ECOWAS region. This has led to a lack of competitiveness for regional airlines facing tough competition from foreign carriers.
With West Africa’s aviation sector being one of the most expensive on the continent, the anticipated reforms could unlock new opportunities in tourism, education, health, and commerce, promoting the free movement of people in accordance with the African Union’s Single African Air Transport Market and the African Continental Free Trade Area frameworks.
The outcomes of the Lomé meetings will be pivotal for the upcoming December 2024 ECOWAS Council of Ministers Session and Heads of State Summit, where final strategies for cost reduction are expected to be adopted. Stakeholders and member states are encouraged to actively participate to ensure swift progress toward a more competitive and sustainable aviation sector.
