Lomé Airport Sees Slight 1.2% Rise in Passenger Traffic in Q1 2025

Transport

Friday, 20 June 2025 07:02

Lomé Airport Sees Slight 1.2% Rise in Passenger Traffic in Q1 2025

(Togo First) - Gnassingbé Eyadema International Airport (AIGE) in Lomé handled 329,618 passengers in the first quarter of 2025, according to figures released on June 18 in the quarterly budget execution report. The marks a 1.2% increase from the same period in 2024, when the airport registered 325,709 travelers.

Although modest, this growth continues the upward trend recorded in recent years at Togo’s main air hub. It aligns with the country’s broader goal of positioning Lomé as a major logistics and aviation center in West Africa.

In 2024, annual traffic at AIGE reached 1,506,946 passengers, reflecting a 6.2% rise over the previous year, which had seen about 1.4 million travelers.

The steady climb in passenger numbers is partly due to network expansion by key partner airlines. Lomé-based Asky Airlines has played a central role. Since July 2024, the carrier has added more flights between Lomé and Abidjan and reopened its route to Pointe-Noire in Congo in October.

Six new routes were introduced in 2023, including four by Asky Airlines and two by Ethiopian Airlines. Ethiopian Airlines’ direct Lomé–Washington flight, which began in June 2022, also continues to drive growth by enhancing transcontinental connectivity.

As traffic grows, Togolese authorities are preparing to increase the airport’s capacity to handle higher volumes. The government has set a medium-term target of 2 million passengers per year, with infrastructure upgrades expected to support that goal.

This latest quarter’s numbers reflect steady progress on that path, as Lomé strengthens its role in regional and international air transport.

Esaïe Edoh

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

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In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.