The Equatoguinean presidency is targeting tax charges that increase the price of air tickets and penalize the commercial attractiveness of the local flag carrier. The legislative overhaul of transport taxation aims to align national tariff grids with the practices of neighboring states, thus providing reinforced maneuvering margins for air transporters, such as the national airline Ceiba Intercontinental, while maximizing sub-regional connectivity.

The current fee structure places Equatorial Guinea among the most expensive destinations in the Central African region. The tariff adjustment introduced by the Agency for the Safety of Air Navigation in Africa and Madagascar (Asecna) in December 2023 sets the international landing fee at 3,503 CFA francs per ton for aircraft under 25 tons. The tariff exceeds the benchmarks applied in Gabon, set at 2,007 CFA francs, and in Congo, fixed at 2,087 CFA francs, and approaches only the Chadian threshold of 3,289 CFA francs. The gap widens for heavy aircraft over 150 tons, subject to a tax of 8,224 CFA francs per ton. The passenger tax includes a security tax ranging from 3,500 to 8,000 CFA francs, coupled with an infrastructure development fee of 2,000 CFA francs, imposing an average surcharge of 9,000 CFA francs per passenger at boarding.

The fiscal tightening responds to an imperative to make modern terminals built by the state profitable, whose frequency level remains below nominal potential. Indicators compiled by the African Airports Association (AAGE) recorded an annual flow of 495,000 passengers in the 2021 balance, a critical mass that the government wants to multiply by encouraging international operators to open new regular routes. The reduction in operating costs for airlines should induce a mechanical decrease in commercial tariffs, breaking the isolation of the Equatoguinean market. The adjustment of aeronautical tax legislation aims to transform the peninsula into a dynamic exchange hub, capable of capturing Central African transit flows and restoring the financial balance of national civil aviation.


Nlend Flore

Tags: transport aérien guinée équatoriale aviation fiscalité compétitivité transports aéroports tarifs économie afrique centrale