Flying is luxury in Sierra Leone

Flying out of Sierra Leone is a luxury that few can afford. The cost of airfares in Sierra Leone is among the highest in Africa, making it inaccessible for many people. The perception is that only government officials or wealthy businessmen can afford to travel by air from Sierra Leone, and local travelers are predominantly not leisure travelers.

As an example, I recently went on vacation to the United States on August 27. The round-trip flight ticket from Lungi, Sierra Leone, to John F Kennedy airport in New York i got from travel agents was around $1,500, which is considered a good deal for Sierra Leone. However, when I checked online, I found a round-trip ticket from Conakry, Guinea, to JFK-New York for only $890. I decided to purchase the ticket and traveled from Conakry, which saved me nearly $600. The total cost of traveling from Freetown to Conakry by road was less than $100. I departed from Freetown in the morning and flew later that evening. Despite these travel experiences, it is often assumed that people who travel are extremely wealthy, but that should not be the case. The average tourist is someone who saves up to travel. The exorbitant flight prices are making it impossible for many people in Sierra Leone to travel.

Interestingly, it is more expensive to fly from Freetown to Lagos, a 3 hours flight, than from Blaise Diagne in Senegal to Lisbon, Portugal, which is a 4-hour flight. Similarly, one can find cheaper tickets from Conakry to New York than from Freetown to Nairobi, Kenya.

The high cost of flight tickets in Sierra Leone can be attributed to excessive taxes and fees, including landing fees and security charges. When purchasing tickets online, the breakdown often shows what portion goes to the airline and what goes to taxes. Sometimes it can be a 50/50 split. Other countries understand that the aviation sector operates on volume and have reduced taxes to encourage more people to fly in and out. They leverage this to boost tourism and make their destinations attractive. In contrast, the increased taxes in Sierra Leone have resulted in reduced passenger numbers. It is no wonder that there has been a shift in traffic to Conakry, as many people have realized the cost savings of flying through Guinea, particularly during times of high inflation. This trend is reflected in the deployment of a boat by Sea coach to facilitate travel between Sierra Leone and Conakry. The government needs to investigate the extent of passenger migration to Conakry and the losses associated with it.

Sierra Leone has witnessed the entry and subsequent suspension of several airlines operating in the country, such as KLM, Air Cote D’Ivoire, and potentially Air France. The operation of direct flights from Sierra Leone to various destinations worldwide is deemed unsustainable. In addition to the numerous taxes, Sierra Leone is one of the few countries in the world where passengers have to pay a $25 cash security fee at the airport. This additional factor discourages people from choosing Sierra Leone as their travel destination. It is worth noting that flight tickets were expensive even before the construction of the new airport. The introduction of the new airport may have exacerbated the situation.

Budget travelers from Europe often choose to travel to places like The Gambia, where they can find round-trip flight tickets as low as $600. The cost of accommodations in Freetown, where a basic one-room hotel in Lumley can cost over $100, deters budget travelers from choosing Sierra Leone. Flying should not be a luxury exclusive to a few individuals. In the United States, there are airlines that offer round-trip tickets from Maryland (DMV area) to Atlanta for less than $90. I have checked with Spirit Airlines and found flight ticket prices as low as $35.

These issues surrounding the high cost of flight tickets in Sierra Leone have been repeatedly highlighted, yet no meaningful action has been taken. Other countries have managed to address this problem, so there is no reason why Sierra Leone cannot do the same. We must explore what Gambia has done differently to make flying more affordable. It has been argued that if we focus on fixing our tourism sector, other areas will naturally improve as well. In conclusion, it is important to continue this conversation not only about flight costs but also about tourism in general on another occasion.

About the author: Murtala Mohamed Kamara is a journalist and the publisher of SaloneJamboree, Sierra Leone’s leading Arts and entertainment newspaper. He is also the founder of Salone Adventures, a travel and tourism website. Kamara, a travel enthusiast, techy and adventurer, enjoys sharing his experiences. He also reports for German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle.