Africa must speed up efforts to open its skies, aviation experts say

Air travel is the shortest, safest means of transportation yet only 10% of Africans travel by air, Adefunke Adeyemi, Executive Secretary of the African Civil Aviation Commission pointed out in a panel discussion on the margins of the ECA’s Conference of African Finance Ministers. 

“The benefits that aviation has brought to other parts of the world, where it’s almost like mass transportation, are not being seen in Africa,” she said. 

The Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) – a flagship initiative of the AU’s 2063 Agenda that seeks to unify African skies – is seen as a solution to the low levels of intra-African air travel. 

SAATM came into force in 2018. AU studies suggest that its full implementation could increase intra-African passenger traffic by 51%, from 31 million to 47 million travelers, while reducing airfares by 26%.

By 2025, 38 countries had signed up. 

Adeyemi said SAATM is currently being rolled out in a phased fashion, with 21 member states, representing 85% of the African market, gradually opening their skies under a pilot programme. 

“In the past two years, 97 new routes have been opened. That is a big deal.”

She urged African finance ministers and policymakers to view aviation as a strategic pillar of development. “Ethiopia is benefiting from Ethiopian Airlines and we can say the same of other countries. We need to ensure aviation is not seen only as a drain on resources.”

Tackling high costs 

Abderahmane Berthé, Secretary General of the African Airlines Association, decried the high taxes and charges in the sector.  

He called on policymakers to review fiscal policy frameworks to find ways to lower the cost of air travel and foster growth. “Travel in Africa is too expensive,” he charged.

He urged African carriers to focus on operational efficiency in a bid to lower travel costs, and air fares, while maintaining profits. “We need to improve ground, flight, and maintenance efficiencies to boost performance.”