Airline ticket prices for both domestic and international travel are set to increase from today, as carriers begin implementing the government’s Airport Infrastructure Development Levy.

The new charges are expected to push up fares across all routes, with domestic passengers paying an additional GH¢100 for flights within Ghana.

For regional travel, passengers will pay an extra $30 for one-way tickets and $70 for return trips.

International travellers will also feel the impact, with a $50 surcharge on one-way tickets and an additional $100 on return fares.

Reasons

Government says the levy is critical to addressing infrastructure gaps in the aviation sector.

Revenue from the charge will be used to finance key projects, including the construction of a concourse linking Terminals 2 and 3 at the Kotoka 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.”

Concerns

Some industry players have raised concerns that 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 questioned how the policy aligns with an ECOWAS directive urging 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.

The increase also comes at a time when some airlines are already adjusting fares upward due to rising aviation fuel prices linked to tensions in the Middle East.

According to the Board of Airlines Representatives in Ghana, Ghana could move from 9th to 3rd place among African countries with the highest airport charges if the levy is fully implemented, 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.