Why does traveling to Africa often cost more than elsewhere? And above all, which countries on the continent impose the highest airport taxes… and which spare their travelers the most?
To answer these questions, the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) conducted a study entitled “AFRAA Study on Taxes and Charges 2024.”
Based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) from September 2024, the study provides an overview of the charges imposed on airline tickets across the continent.
Tunisia is among the African countries that tax airline tickets the least. Ranked 6th continentally, it applies an average international air tax of $15.4, according to the AFRAA study.
More broadly, North Africa and Southern Africa are the regions with the most competitive pricing policies. At the top is Libya, with a negligible tax of $1.3, followed by Malawi ($5), Lesotho ($5.7), Algeria ($9.8), Morocco ($25.1), and Angola ($28.4).
Some small countries like Eswatini ($14.2), Botswana ($18.9), or São Tomé ($26) also appear in this category. North Africa, with a regional average of $25.27, remains the least taxed area of the continent.
At the other end of the spectrum, West Africa and Central Africa have the highest levels of taxation on airline tickets. Gabon ranks far ahead, with an international tax peaking at $297.7, followed by Sierra Leone ($294) and Nigeria ($180).
Djibouti ($168.7), Niger ($130.7), Benin ($123.4), Senegal ($122.6), Liberia ($115), Ghana ($111.5), and the Democratic Republic of Congo ($109.9) complete the top 10 destinations where cumulative charges consistently exceed the $100 mark, nearly triple the African average, which is set at $68.
According to the AFRAA report, these excessive levels are often the result of tax policies disconnected from ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) standards. Taxation is diverted from its original logic to serve as a budgetary tool, to the detriment of airlines and passengers, who are already facing high structural costs.
