The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has identified Nigeria as one of the most expensive countries in the world in which to operate an airline, citing high operational costs that continue to challenge the viability and growth of local carriers.

Speaking at the IATA Annual General Meeting held in Brazil, Kamil Al-Awadhi, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, said that despite ongoing efforts by Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to reform and improve the aviation sector, airlines in the country still face significant cost pressures.

According to Al-Awadhi, the high-cost environment has made it difficult for Nigerian airlines to remain competitive and profitable, limiting the sector’s ability to reach its full potential.

He noted that excessive taxes, charges, and other operational expenses continue to burden airlines across the region, with Nigeria ranking among the most challenging markets from a cost perspective.

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To address the issue, Al-Awadhi urged member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to implement the proposed 25 per cent reduction in aviation taxes and charges. He said the measure would help lower the cost of air travel, stimulate passenger traffic, and improve the competitiveness of airlines operating within West Africa.

Industry stakeholders have long argued that reducing taxes and regulatory charges is essential to making air travel more affordable and encouraging greater connectivity across the region.

The call by IATA adds to growing pressure on governments in West Africa to create a more enabling environment for the aviation industry, which is widely regarded as a key driver of trade, tourism, and economic development.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.

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