From inadequate infrastructure to security and connectivity issues, the challenges for African air transport remain great, despite the sector's potential. In the quest to resolve the problems that are delaying its emergence, IATA and AFRAA are proposing solutions.

AFRAA (African Airlines Association) has joined the IATA (International Air Transport Association) Focus Africa initiative, a program that aims at socio-economic development by capitalizing on the contribution of air transport.

The initiative brings together private and public sector stakeholders involved in civil aviation committed to delivering measurable improvements in six key areas, including safety, infrastructure, connectivity, finance, distribution, as well as sustainability and skills development.

The two entities intend to collaborate with governments to help address the specific challenges that are delaying the development of this type of transport in Africa. Among these challenges is the plan to establish the single African air transport market, for which they plan to accelerate the process of ratification of the agreement by the 23 member countries and encourage the accession of other countries.

Other issues include the need to obtain from governments the repatriation of nearly USD 1,5 billion in airline currency still stranded in several African countries, as well as the obligation to improve operational security in the sector.

The stakeholders also plan to address issues related to the high costs of aviation user fees, which are currently 8% higher than the global average, as well as those related to compliance with the carbon offsetting and reduction system in order to achieve IATA's Zero Carbon objective by 2050.

According to Kamil Al Awadhi, IATA Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, the expected benefits of this partnership will drive major advances for this industry on the continent.

“This is extremely promising. The continent is home to the fastest growing population in the world, but accounts for only 2% of passenger and cargo air transport activity. The road to realising aviation’s potential appears long, but with the strong partnerships engaged in Focus Africa, we can deliver the change needed.”, did he declare.

Henoc Dossa