Kotoka Airport: International air passengers to pay US$50 more

International passengers travelling through Accra’s Kotoka International Airport (KIA) will soon pay an additional US$50 Airport Infrastructure Development Charge (AIDC) per trip if Parliament approves a new proposal announced by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson during the 2026 Budget presentation last week.

The new fee is separate from the existing Airport Passenger Service Charge (APSC). The main difference between the infrastructure development charge and the airport passenger service charge lies in their funding purpose.

The Airport Passenger Service Charge funds routine passenger-related services, while the Infrastructure Development Charge is a specific, often temporary, levy to finance major airport modernization or expansion projects.

The US$50 charge, part of a broader Airport Development Fee framework, is expected to fund several major aviation infrastructure projects led by the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), including a long-awaited concourse linking Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 at KIA.

The fee will also support rehabilitation works at Sunyani Airport, construction of a new airport at Bolgatanga, and a multi-purpose car park in Accra.

Under the leadership of GACL Managing Director, Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, the company has intensified plans to modernise airport infrastructure and improve passenger experience, particularly at Kotoka.

AviationGhana has previously reported that the recently remodelled Terminal 2 is being positioned as the dedicated terminal for key regional airlines, freeing Terminal 3 to focus exclusively on intercontinental and long-haul operations.

However, with the two terminals currently detached, regional travellers connecting to long-haul flights will face significant inconvenience and, in some cases, may miss onward flights due to the lack of a unified passenger movement system. The proposed T2–T3 connecting concourse is therefore a critical project aimed at delivering seamless airside transfers.

The concourse will allow passengers arriving on regional flights at Terminal 2 to move directly airside into Terminal 3 without undergoing fresh security screening or navigating external walkways. This, according to officials, will enhance transfer efficiency and align Accra’s airport experience with global hub standards.

To fund these improvements, the new US$50 airport charge for international passengers has become the centrepiece of the financing strategy. While aviation experts acknowledge the need for sustained investment at KIA, Ghana’s only profitable airport, they caution that the additional costs could raise ticket prices.

Kotoka Subsidising All Regional Airports

The Auditor-General’s Reports of the past two years have repeatedly flagged a major issue. The AG’s reports show that none of Ghana’s regional airports is financially self-sustaining. Due to the extremely low APSC of GHC5 per domestic passenger, airports such as Tamale, Wa, Ho, Sunyani and Kumasi generate insufficient revenue to cover basic operations.

As a result, Kotoka International Airport (KIA), which handles the profitable international traffic, has been forced to subsidize the operational costs of all regional airports. AviationGhana has previously reported the concerns of industry experts who argue that the current fee structure is “unsustainable” and prevents maintenance, expansion and safety improvements across Ghana’s airport network.

AIDC seen as necessary but must be transparent

While the new GHC100 AIDC is expected to face public scrutiny, industry stakeholders argue that it is necessary if Ghana expects to complete major airport projects without burdening the national budget.

However, they insist that strict transparency and reporting must accompany the revenue collected to ensure the charge is removed as soon as projects are completed.

If Parliament approves the 2026 Budget, air fares will rise, but Ghana’s long-delayed airport infrastructure upgrades may finally get the financial backing they require.