Aviation and trade leaders are calling for faster implementation of existing agreements to improve connectivity and support intra-African business.
African governments and aviation industry leaders are calling for faster implementation of open-skies policies, warning that fragmented aviation markets are increasing costs and limiting the potential benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The push came during a high-level virtual working session ahead of the Africa Mindset Reset Forum, scheduled for August 25-26 in Kigali. According to reports, participants agreed that Africa already has frameworks for liberalizing air transport, including the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and Yamoussoukro Decision, but implementation remains slow.
Air Connectivity and African Trade
Rwanda’s Minister for Trade and Industry Antoine Kajangwe argued that affordable, frequent and reliable air links are essential to allowing businesses to access markets across Africa.
AfCFTA Secretariat Director of Coordination and Programmes Dr Tsotetsi Makong similarly called for countries to turn continental agreements into practical results. “Those rules must be domesticated, brought to life and translated into practical benefits for African people and businesses,” Makong said.
Officials also stressed the connection between aviation liberalization and the Free Movement Protocol, with Gambia Civil Aviation Authority Legal Services Manager Ellen Manga arguing that the two initiatives need to advance together.
Financing Remains a Barrier
Financial pressures on African airlines emerged as another major concern.
Raphael Kuuchi of the African Airlines Association said nearly $800 million in airline revenues remains blocked across about 14 African countries, restricting airlines’ ability to repatriate earnings and reinvest in their operations.
African Development Bank transport expert Dr Lufeyo Banda said liberalization requires more than regulatory reform, pointing to the need for fleet modernization, stronger institutions and improved connectivity.
Affordability Limits Connectivity
African Civil Aviation Commission Director of Air Transport Getachew Mengistie Alemayehu said Africa’s aviation connectivity index stands at just 23%, with affordability among the continent’s biggest barriers to air travel.
Yvonne Manzi Makolo, CEO of RwandAir, noted that taxes, charges and other costs can account for almost half the price of some tickets, contributing to the high cost of intra-African flights, which often cost more than flights to destinations outside of the continent.
Calls for Practical Reform
Arnold Kwizera of Norrsken East Africa urged governments to move beyond declarations towards practical reforms, while Dr Joy Kategekwa, Strategy Advisor on Africa at the UNDP and Director of the Regional Integration Coordination Office at the AfDB Group, proposed an “Africa Zone” of countries offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to encourage business and tourism.
Makong closed the session by advocating a “coalition of the willing” approach, under which early adopters could demonstrate the benefits of liberalised air transport before broader implementation.
For more information on African infrastructure, visit our dedicated archives at Gulf Africa Review and follow us on LinkedIn.