At a recent summit hosted by the World Bank in Washington D.C., key industry voices sounded the alarm: Africa’s heavy aviation taxes are suppressing job creation and contributing to youth unrest and migration across the continent. The message was delivered by Esayas Woldemariam Hailu, CEO of pan-African carrier ASKY Airlines, who urged African governments to rethink levies on air travel to unlock economic opportunity.
Taxing Flight Out of Reach
Hailu drew attention to a striking disparity: aviation fuel in Africa costs around 30% more than in Europe, while ticket taxes often double those seen in Western jurisdictions. He explained that for many passengers, “one-third of the ticket is going to tax, two-thirds to the airline to cover costs.” This level of burden, he argued, is “sabotaging” the aviation sector’s capacity to generate jobs and connect markets.
Youth Unemployment, Migration, and Mobility
Connecting aviation taxation to social dynamics, Hailu made a direct link between lack of employment opportunity and youth-driven migration and protests across Africa. With Generation Z facing some of the highest unemployment rates on the continent, he noted:
“If you need peace, invest in aviation.”
He argued that the inability of young people to find steady work fuels unrest, and that aviation’s growth could provide a stabilising force—creating jobs, encouraging settlement, and reducing mobility pressures.
Aviation as a Job Engine
Beyond connectivity, aviation contributes to job creation through multiple channels: airport operations, ground handling, logistics, tourism, retail, maintenance and more. Hailu argued that the current tax load hampers this ecosystem before it can scale. By reducing levies on tickets and fuel, the sector could expand more rapidly, stimulating employment across adjacent industries and regions.
Reform Urgency & Policy Direction
Governments attending the summit heard calls for concrete reform measures:
- Cut or standardise aviation fuel taxes to bring costs in line with global averages
- Reduce ticket levies or eliminate passenger taxes that disproportionately affect African carriers and travellers
- Introduce incentives for airline fleet expansion, regional connectivity and local aviation industry investment
- Position aviation growth as part of broader employment strategies, youth skills development and migration management frameworks
The message was clear: aviation tax reform is not simply about business—it’s about unlocking broader socio-economic value.
What to Watch
- Whether individual African countries begin to adjust aviation tax regimes or fuel levies in the coming 12 – 24 months
- The response from regional organisations such as the African Union and the African Civil Aviation Commission, and whether they adopt common tax reform frameworks
- Growth in regional carrier networks, increased flight frequencies, and new airport-linked employment initiatives
- The degree to which aviation expansion becomes integrated into national youth employment and migration strategies
Final Take
At a moment when Africa’s young population demands opportunity and global mobility is being re-imagined, aviation is emerging as a potent lever for change. But as Hailu emphasised, the sector’s potential hinges on policy: without reform, taxes will continue to clip aviation’s wings. The call is clear — lower the burden, unleash connectivity, and the jobs and stability will follow.