The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has listed Nigeria among the world’s most expensive countries for airline operations, warning that high costs are limiting the growth and profitability of local carriers, according to a report by Channels Television.
Speaking at the IATA Annual General Meeting in Brazil, the organisation’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Al-Awadhi, said airlines operating in Nigeria continue to face severe cost pressures despite reform efforts in the aviation sector.
He noted that the high-cost environment, driven by excessive taxes, regulatory charges and operational expenses, is making it difficult for Nigerian airlines to remain competitive. According to him, the situation is preventing the sector from achieving its full economic potential.
Al-Awadhi urged member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to implement a proposed 25 per cent reduction in aviation taxes and charges. He argued that the move would lower ticket prices, increase passenger demand and improve airline competitiveness across the region.
Industry stakeholders have repeatedly warned that high operating costs remain one of the biggest barriers to affordable air travel in West Africa. They say reforms in taxation and regulation are crucial to improving connectivity and boosting economic activity tied to aviation, including trade and tourism.
The development adds to ongoing discussions about how to make Nigeria’s aviation sector more viable, even as the Federal Government continues policy reforms aimed at improving efficiency and safety standards.
