Raphael Oni
Her Excellency Hadja Mémounatou IBRAHIMA, the Speaker, ECOWAS Parliament has called on the region on the importance of looking into the cost of air transport within the region. The Speaker emphasized the importance of addressing this challenge, which has become a significant obstacle to the free movement of people and goods within the region. She made this call setting the agenda for the 2nd Remote Meeting of the Joint Committee on Infrastructure/Agriculture,/Environment and Natural Resources/Energy and Mines in Lomé, Togo.
The 5 days meeting with the theme: “Air Transport as a Means of Integration for West African Peoples: A Strategy for Reducing Airline Ticket Costs,” is of paramount importance to our community. It reflects a major issue facing our citizens: the prohibitive costs of air travel between our countries, which hinder the free movement of people and compromise our ambitions for regional integration.
According to the Speaker, “ there is no need to emphasize the importance of air transport in a country’s economy, especially within a sub-regional community. Indeed, air transport is an essential lever for economic development and sub-regional integration. It promotes trade, stimulates tourism, strengthens cultural and social ties, and contributes to the growth of our economies. In reality, there can be no free movement without transport facilitation. And among these facilitations, transport costs figure prominently.”
Air transport is a crucial lever for economic development and sub-regional integration, promoting trade, stimulating tourism, and strengthening cultural and social ties. However, the prohibitive costs of air travel between ECOWAS countries hinder the region’s economic growth and integration ambitions. West Africa accounts for approximately 54% of air traffic recorded in the region, with several international airports contributing financially to state budgets through various fees and taxes. Nevertheless, these fees make air ticket costs prohibitive, hampering tourism and economic development.
The ECOWAS Parliament Speaker identify several factors contribute to the high cost of airfares in the region, including:Excessive taxation and high airport fees, adding to the financial burden of airlines and passengers. Fragmented aviation market which see that National airlines operating in isolation rather than in synergy.Lack of modern infrastructure that bring about Inadequate airport infrastructure adapted to the needs of air transport. In addition, weak implementation of agreements*: Limited enforcement of agreements liberalizing African airspace, notably the Yamoussoukro Declaration.
Madam Speaker emphasized the crucial role of ECOWAS parliamentarians in formulating strong recommendations to Member States and relevant institutions to ensure the establishment of a framework conducive to more accessible and efficient air transport. working together, the region can achieve the objectives of ECOWAS Vision 2050, “Economic Integration and Interconnectivity,” and make significant progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
The ECOWAS Parliament’s initiative to reduce airfare costs is a step towards promoting regional integration, economic growth, and development. addressing the root causes of high airfare costs and implementing Community legal instruments, the region can unlock the potential of air transport to drive economic development and integration.
