How charges work

What taxes and charges are in an air ticket

Last checked 24 October 2026 · 10 sources

Short answer

An air ticket in Africa is the fare plus government taxes and charges for airports, security and other services. ECOWAS says these make up nearly 50 percent of the ticket cost in West Africa ¹. Most are collected by the airline when the ticket is sold and passed to the state. Kenya's law makes the airline's agent collect its passenger charge at the sale ⁵. Some fees are paid separately at the airport, like The Gambia's US$20 security fee ¹⁰.

Share of ticket in West Africa: Nearly 50 percent, ECOWAS estimate of November 2024 ¹
Average paid on West African departures: US$109.5 in 2022, African Airlines Association study as reported ⁹
Example, Nigeria international: US$100 passenger service charge ², plus US$20 security and US$11.5 APIS charges, as reported ⁴
Example, Kenya: US$50 external, KSh 600 internal ⁵
Price rule: No rise after purchase except for a government tax or fee increase, under AU rules of 2017 ⁶

The main kinds of charge

Passenger service charge for the airport. Nigeria's FAAN lists US$100 per passenger on international flights outside West Africa and ₦2,000 on domestic flights ².
Security charge. Nigeria's Civil Aviation Act, 2022 provides for a security surcharge on each international ticket from Nigeria ³. ICIR reported the amount as US$20 ⁴.
Passenger data charge. Nigeria added a US$11.5 Advance Passenger Information System charge to tickets issued from 1 December 2025, as reported ⁴.
Percentage charges on the fare. Nigeria charges 5 percent of the fare, excluding statutory fees and taxes ³.
Charges set in law as a fixed sum. Kenya's Air Passenger Service Charge is US$50 for an external journey ⁵.

How the airline collects them

Most of these sums are added at the time of sale. Kenya's Act says the airline's officer, servant or agent collects the charge when the ticket is sold, and remits it within 25 days after the end of the month ⁵. If the airline fails to collect, it must pay the charge itself ⁵.

In Nigeria, ICIR reported that the operating airline collects the APIS charge at the point of sale and remits it to the NCAA ⁴. The Civil Aviation Act, 2022 lets the NCAA delegate collection of its 5 percent charge to airlines ³. In the DR Congo, Ecofin Agency reported that airlines collect a US$30 security fee under the IATA code ⁸.

When a government changes a tax, the change does not reach fares at once. Ecofin Agency reported that governments must issue decrees or orders and then send the changes to ATPCO so airline pricing systems can apply them ⁷.

Charges paid outside the ticket

Some fees are paid in person. UK advice updated on 7 July 2026 says passengers at Banjul pay a US$20 Airport Security Fee at kiosks on arrival and on departure ¹⁰. It can be paid in US dollars, euros, pounds or dalasi ¹⁰.

Different airlines, different totals

The same trip can show different charges by airline. Ecofin Agency reported that fare breakdowns for flights to the DR Congo showed a security fee of US$43.75 on Qatar Airways, Uganda Airlines and Kenya Airways, US$58 on Ethiopian Airlines and up to US$66 on Air France ⁸.

ICIR reported that the average passenger flying internationally from Nigeria pays roughly US$150 in taxes, charges and levies ⁴. Ecofin Agency found taxes and fees of 257,100 CFA francs on a base fare of 218,100 CFA francs for an Abidjan to Dakar ticket in January 2026 ⁷.

What the rules say about price changes

AfricanLII lists the African Union consumer protection regulations under the Yamoussoukro Decision as commencing on 17 March 2017 ⁶. Article 6 bars an airline from raising the price of a ticket after purchase, except when a government-imposed tax or fee goes up ⁶. It says no airline or travel agent shall collect taxes, commissions or other fees that were not advertised or told to the buyer at the first inquiry ⁶.

ECOWAS member states agreed to remove air transport taxes and cut passenger and security charges by 25 percent from 1 January 2026 ⁷. ECOWAS ministers said taxes not in line with ICAO recommendations should be eliminated ¹.

Common questions

Why are taxes on African air tickets so high?

ECOWAS says charges, taxes and fees make up nearly 50 percent of ticket cost in West Africa ¹.

Can an airline charge me more tax after I buy my ticket?

Under the AU rules of 2017, only if a government-imposed tax or fee goes up ⁶.

Who collects the taxes in my ticket?

The airline or its agent collects them at sale and passes them to the authority, as Kenya's law requires ⁵.

Are all airport fees in the ticket?

No. The Gambia's US$20 security fee is paid at kiosks at Banjul airport ¹⁰.

Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email [email protected].

Sources

Departure taxes in Africa
Departure taxes and charges on flights leaving African countries, from Sierra Leone's 10 percent travel tax to Kenya's US$50 charge, and how each is paid.
Airport security fees in Africa
Airport security charges and fees in Nigeria, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, the DR Congo and Cameroon, how they are collected, and the ECOWAS 2026 cut.
ECOWAS air charges reduction 2026
What ECOWAS decided on air transport taxes and the 25 percent cut in passenger and security charges from 1 January 2026, and where it stands.
Nigeria passenger charges
Nigeria's passenger service charge, 5 percent ticket sales charge, NCAA security and APIS charges, visa rules and the ECOWAS cut, with sources.
IATA tax codes explained
What the two-letter codes in the taxes box of an air ticket mean, who files them with IATA, and African examples such as Tanzania's HY and VI.