Implementation of the government’s Airport Infrastructure Development Levy commences today, which is expected to shoot airline ticket prices for both domestic and international travel.
Passengers boarding flights domestically are expected to pay an additional GH¢100 for flights within Ghana. For one-way tickets and return trips, passengers are expected to pay an extra $30 and $70.
International travellers will also feel the impact, with a $50 surcharge on one-way tickets and an additional $100 on return fares.
According to government, the levy is meant to address the infrastructural deficit in the aviation sector.
Government explains further that the generated revenue will be used to finance key projects, including the construction of a concourse linking Terminals 2 and 3 at the Accra International Airport, the development of a 2,000-capacity car park at Terminal 3, and rehabilitation works at regional airports.
Aviation expert Sean Mendis has backed the move, warning that Ghana must “either increase domestic airport charges or continue watching KIA collapse under the financial burden of subsidising the entire system.”
Meanwhile, some industry players say the new levy, combined with existing taxes, could make Ghana’s airport one of the most expensive in the region and reduce its competitiveness.
Others have also raised concerns over the policy, asking how it aligns with ECOWAS’s directive which urges member states to cut air transport taxes by 25% to improve regional connectivity.
Passengers are therefore being advised to expect higher ticket costs from today, as the levy takes effect.
Prior to the levy implementation, some airlines were already adjusting their fares upward due to the rising aviation fuel prices linked to tensions in the Middle East.
If fully implemented, the Board of Airlines Representatives in Ghana says the country could move from 9th to 3rd place among African countries with the highest airport charges, ranking behind Gabon and Sierra Leone.
Globally, average airport charges for return trips range from $30 to $34, while Africa’s average is about $68, highlighting concerns about affordability and competitiveness.
