Fees and charges
Banjul airport charges inside and outside the air fare
Short answer
- Security fee
- US$20, paid at airport kiosks, July 2026 6
- Passenger Service Charge
- £10 to £15 announced from 1 May 2023 1
- Passenger Safety Levy
- US$5 per departing passenger, announced from 1 May 2023 1
- Sales tax on air tickets
- 15 percent, per audit office 2
- Plan to add fee to fares
- Announced, not in effect as of January 2026 5
- ECOWAS plan
- 25 percent cut in aviation charges from 1 January 2026, announced 8
Charges in the ticket and at the airport
This site did not confirm from a GCAA tariff whether the 2023 changes took effect. Check the tax lines on your ticket receipt 1.
| Charge | How paid | Status and date |
|---|---|---|
| Airport security fee, US$20 6 | Cash or card at kiosks on arrival and departure 6 | Live, 7 July 2026 6 |
| Passenger Service Charge, £15 1 | Method not stated in the report. The audit office says many airport fees are built into tickets 2 | Announced for 1 May 2023 1 |
| Passenger Safety Levy, US$5 1 | Per departing passenger 1 | Announced for 1 May 2023 1 |
| Sales tax on air tickets, 15 percent 2 | In the ticket 2 | Cited by audit office, February 2023 2 |
Why the security fee is paid in cash
The audit office found that a government task force had recommended a new security fee collected by airlines, and replacing the 15 percent sales tax on air tickets with it 2.
It found executive approval went ahead without that recommendation, and IATA approval for airlines to add the fee to tickets was not obtained. It said airlines were unwilling, as The Gambia was already seen as expensive. Securiport staff then collected the fee in cash at the terminal 2.
Dubawa, summarising the audit, said security fee collection started in September 2020. It said the contract split each US$20 fee into US$15 for Securiport and US$5 for the GCAA 9.
Plans to move the fee into fares
On 27 January 2023 The Point reported a GCAA notice that manual collection of Securiport charges would stop and security charges would change from 1 May 2023 1.
On 21 March 2023 President Barrow said officials were negotiating to add the US$20 fee to tickets 4. In June 2023 Securiport said it was working with the government to include the fees in the ticket price 3.
On 15 January 2026 the information minister said passengers in The Gambia pay at the airport and that the government was working to include the fee in the ticket price 5. UK advice updated 7 July 2026 still lists kiosk payment 6.
Amounts and exchange rates
In June 2023 Securiport said the fee remains US$20 under the contract and that changes in the dalasi amount reflect exchange rates. It said D1,200 then equalled US$20 3. The Ministry of Interior said it had not approved a request to raise the fee 3.
Dubawa cited a Malagen report of August 2022 that the levy was US$25. Securiport and the 2026 UK advice give US$20 9,3 6.
A WFP assessment with 2011 figures listed a passenger charge of GBP 10 and a security charge of GBP 1.50 7.
ECOWAS cuts to air charges
The Point, crediting The Guardian, reported on 15 December 2025 that ECOWAS would cut aviation charges by 25 percent under a supplementary Act adopted in December 2024, and abolish air transport taxes from 1 January 2026. An ECOWAS official named a security tax among four main taxes 8.
This site did not find a Gambian notice applying the ECOWAS cuts at Banjul. The information minister said in January 2026 that ECOWAS talks could affect the fee 5.
Common questions
Is the Banjul airport security fee included in my ticket?
No. UK advice updated 7 July 2026 says it is paid at kiosks on arrival and departure 6.
Why is the security fee not in the ticket?
The audit office found IATA approval for airlines to add it was not obtained 2.
Will the security fee move into air fares?
The government said in January 2026 it was working on it. No date was given 5.
What is the Passenger Service Charge at Banjul?
The GCAA announced a rise from £10 to £15 from 1 May 2023 1.
Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email hello@gambiaairportguide.com.
Sources
- The Point (Ali Jaw): GCAA to increase flight passenger charges (27 January 2023)
- The Point (Adama Tine): NAO demands review of Securiport project by gov't (10 February 2023)
- The Point: Securiport denies fee increment (2 June 2023)
- The Point: Barrow justifies Securiport contract (21 March 2023)
- The Point (Jankey Ceesay): Info minister on tourism and the airport security levy (15 January 2026)
- GOV.UK, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: The Gambia travel advice, entry requirements (updated 7 July 2026)
- WFP Logistics Cluster: Logistics Capacity Assessment, Gambia Banjul International Airport (figures dated 2011)
- The Point, credited to The Guardian: ECOWAS to slash air fare, eliminate taxes by January 2026 (15 December 2025)
- Dubawa (Mariam Sankanu): Assessing Securiport contract breach and its subsequent chaos (6 March 2023)
Related
- Passenger charges at Banjul International Airport
The US$20 Airport Security Fee paid at kiosks, and the passenger service, security and development charges listed by the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority.
- The Banjul airport security fee
How the US$20 Airport Security Fee at Banjul works, how to pay it, who runs it, how the money is split and what the National Audit Office found.
- Receipts for airport charges at Banjul
How the US$20 security fee is paid and receipted at Banjul, what the National Audit Office found about missing receipts and deposits, and what to keep.
- Audits and parliamentary scrutiny of Banjul airport
National Audit Office findings on the Securiport airport security fee contract, official responses, and National Assembly scrutiny of GCAA and GIA.
- The ECOWAS plan to cut air transport charges and taxes
ECOWAS agreed to abolish air transport taxes and cut passenger and security charges by 25 percent from 1 January 2026. What is known about Banjul.