Page 58 - World Airnews Magazine January 2020 Edition

AFRICA

AIR TRANSPORT IN AFRICA

African Airlines Association secretary general Abderahmane
Berthé provided this overview of air transport in Africa

he African continent is home to

T17% of the global populati on but

its air traffic accounts for less than 3% of
global traffic.

African airlines lose an average of (US)
$1.54 per passenger carried while globally
airlines earn (US) $6.12 per passenger carried.
Today, in several parts of the world you
can fly for 1.5 hours for less than $100

while in Africa total taxes on the ticket are

often higher than $100.

Passenger traffic between Africa and the

rest of the world is dominated by non-Afri-
can carriers often charging exorbitant fares.

Out of 55 African states, only 8 have

direct flights to more than 20 other African

states. Quite often, the passenger is obliged
to transit through one or several stopovers.
This data should challenge all stake-
holders to commit to creating a conducive

environment for the development of air

traffic in Africa.
MAIN CHALLENGES FOR AFRICAN
AIRLINES
The air transport industry is facing a host of
challenges:
• High operating costs due to high

taxes on ground and in air
• Inadequate infrastructure
• High price of fuel compared to the
rest of the world
• High level of taxes on airlines and
passengers

• Restrictions on traffic rights

• Restrictions on visas to passengers The high economic growth rate, the The objective of SAATM is to remove all

Fleet financing is also a critical challenge young African population and the emer- restrictions on traffic rights, frequencies,

for African airlines which encounter difficul- gence of a middle class are all great oppor- capacity and tariffs.

ties in accessing funding due to perceived tunities to be grasped. Expected and confirmed benefits in sev-

risk by international financial institutions. eral other regions of the world are: better

African development banks should address MARKET ACCESS connectivity, decrease of travel time and

this problem by putting in place adequate The Single African Air Transport Market reduction of air fares to make air transport

funding mechanisms for African airlines. (SAATM) project was launched in January affordable for as many Africans as possible.

Nevertheless, alongside the challenges 2018 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Since then, Some Member States are still reticent

there are opportunities and all the stake- a total of 28 States have signed the solemn and have not yet signed SAATM mainly for

holders should work towards harnessing commitment. These signatory States two (2) reasons:

them for African aviation to prosper: represent 51% of AU member states, 61% • The fear for their national airlines to

• The Single African Air Transport Mar- of the population and 65% of the gross be driven out of business by the com-

ket (SAATM) to improve connectivity domestic product (GDP). petition from larger African carriers

• The African Continental Free Trade 10 of the 28 signatory States have already led some States to protecting their

Area (AfCFTA) to boost intra African fully implemented the immediate measures national flag carriers.

trade recommended by AFCAC (African Civil Avi- • The regulatory framework of which

• The Free movement protocol for ation Commission) in order to achieve the a key component is the mechanism

people, goods, capital and services to realization of SAATM. for settlement of disputes having

facilitate investment 18 States have also signed a Memorandum not been finalized, some States are

These various projects initiated by the Af- of implementation (MoI) with a view to har- skeptical about SAATM immediate

rican Union should contribute to improving monizing their bilateral agreements with the operational capability.
the fortunes of airlines. provisions of Yamoussoukro Decision. At AFRAA, we believe that although
World Airnews | January 2020
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