Page 30 - World Airnews Magazine December 2020

AFRAA AFRAA

A CALL FOR GREATER A STRUCTURED AND

CO-OPERATION CO-ORDINATED

In her keynote address at the AFRAA AGA, African COVID-19 RESPONSE
Union commissioner for infrastructure and energy,
Amani Abou-Zeid called for greater co-operation During the virtual AFRAA 50th AGA, Tefera Mekonnen,

among African airlines to improve air traffic secretary general of AFCAC (African Civil Aviation Com-
at (US) $2.2 billion as per analysis released mission) called on African airlines to implement Covid-19
by Airports council international. protocols in a structured and co-ordinated fashion. Here

aying tribute to the creation of the “Revenue losses are currently estimated is a shortened version of his keynote address.
PSingle African Air Transport mar- to be over (US)$8 billion for African airlines
ket, Abou-Zeid said the assembly of heads according to ICAO economic impact analy-
sis report.

of state and government of the African African’s aviation sector’s response to the nancial resources to support African aviation

“Furthermore, cash liquidity challenges

Union adopted the declaration on the and fluctuations in foreign currencies have impact of COVID-19 followed a structured not only to support the restart and recovery

creation of a Single African Air Transport resulted in job losses to African airlines, he COVID-19 pandemic has had and co-ordinated approach for a successful but to put the African air transport industry
Market in 2015 and launched it later on airports and other strategic institutions and Tan unprecedented impact on our restart and sustainable recovery. on a renewed path towards sustainability.

29 January, 2018. pillars that drive air transport’s contribu- industry. Massive losses in revenues and The HLTF not only adopted the ICAO During the COVID-19 pandemic re-

“SAATM is one of the 12 flagship projects tions to the African economy,” she said. jobs are being witnessed by airlines, civil CART key principles and measures as part strictions, AFCAC has also continued to

of the African Union agenda 2063 and its aviation authorities, air navigation service of its framework but also developed 15 undertake work towards putting in place
main objective is to create one single air A HIGH-LEVEL TASK FORCE providers and airports. African specific recommendations grouped a mechanism to assist all eligible African

transport market in Africa, liberalise air She said the AU department of infrastruc- “The ripple effect has spread to other as financial, technical, sustainability of air Airlines to achieve IOSA/ISSA certification.

transport services and drive economic ture and energy through its organs and strategic institutions and pillars that drive transport, communication, policy harmon- To this effect we will be signing agree-

integration,” she said. specialized agency, African Civil Aviation air transport’s contributions to the African isation and co-operation and quality data ments with AFRAA and IATA as part of

Currently, 34 states with a total popu- Commission or AFCAC, had taken initiatives economy. and capacity building recommendations. the AfDB institutional support project to

lation of more than 800 million people, and interventions in collaboration with “Despite the impact of the pandemic, In co-ordination with the respective implement the SAATM.

accounting for 61% of the population on other stakeholders such as ICAO, WHO we believe that the aviation industry has African civil aviation authorities, AFCAC The challenges that threaten the benefits

the African continent and 89% of intra-Af- and other entities to prevent the spread of been put in a situation where it must focus has been championing the harmonisation promised by aviation in Africa, must be ad-

rican air transport market have commit- COVID-19 and position the aviation sector on every opportunity to recover, build and co-ordination in the implementation of dressed in order to increase Africa’s share

ted themselves to the project and have on a new path to restart, recovery and our member states for further adoption by resilience and become sustainable through COVID-19 protocols to effectively support in global air transport.

opened up their markets to each other sustainability. the AU Summit. rethinking its strategies and collaboration our African airlines in their resumption of There is no better time than now. We

unconditionally to capture additional “In this regard a high-level task force AUC is committed to co-ordinate on-go- in ways that will truly redefine air transport international travel. have seen how innovation has become the

millions of passengers within the SAATM under the co-ordination of AFCAC has ing efforts by AFCAC, AFRAA and IATA to for a new era. With regards to the issue of financial aid, new normal. We must equally be innova-

group of states. developed recommendations and mea- standardise the taxes, fees, and charges “AFCAC in recognition of the impor- AFCAC continues to work with the AUC, the tive in aviation.

She said a prioritised action plan for the sures which are aligned to the ICAO Council levied on airline operations by establishing tance of the African aviation industry, at World Bank, Afrexim Bank and African De- Existing African continental initiatives

operationalisation of SAATM was adopted Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART) report continental experts working groups that the onset of the pandemic, embarked on velopment Bank to mobilise the required fi- such as the SAATM, AfCFTA and other

in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire on the 7th March and its guidance towards a seamless restart will come up with recommendations for activities aimed at supporting Agenda 2063 flagship projects

2018 and is updated each year by all key and recovery of aviation in Africa. consideration and adoption by our member and reducing further damage provide a good basis for the

partners including AFRAA, IATA, ICAO, with Furthermore, the restart and recovery states. caused by COVID-19. growth of intra African air
the overall co-ordination of SAATM by the strategies have been shared to all member She said the 51st Annual General As- AFCAC co-ordinated the Af- travel ready to be exploited by

executing agency, AFCAC. states and are now being implemented sembly provided an opportunity to clearly rican immediate relief and re- African airlines.

The main pillars of the action plan include with co-ordination by AFCAC and African identify all the challenges faced by African covery measures with various In concluding, he issued a call

advocacy for all member states to join directors of Civil Aviation Authorities. Airlines not only to re-open operations and stakeholders including AFRAA to action for African airlines to,

the market, harmonisation of air services “The role of the African Airlines and recover from COVID-19 pandemic but to on development of immediate amongst others, operate under

agreement between states, resources AFRAA in the important stages of oper- also reposition the African aviation industry relief measures for the African the SAATM and fly without

mobilisation and strengthening of the ationalization of SAATM cannot be over on a new path towards sustainability. aviation sector for the consid- hindrance based on their own

executing agency (AFCAC), finalisation of emphasized. It is important that all African “It is high time that the airlines co-oper- eration of ministerial sub-com- economic considerations and

the regulatory instruments of the SAATM, member states join SAATM and remove the ation in its various forms be given priority mittee of STC transport. subject to safety and secu-

aviation infrastructure, safety and security restrictions in terms of capacity, frequency in AFRAA’s priorities for 2021 and onward, Following this action, some rity concerns of the aviation

and aviation financing. and granting of traffic rights. in order to establish stronger and more important resolutions were authorities. Any challenges

“This will not be possible without the in-

COVID-19 volvement of the African Airlines especially efficient airlines with business models that taken as result to support the encountered to be brought to
the attention of AFCAC, the

will allow them compete internationally

African aviation sector.

“As you all know, the COVID-19 pandemic with regard to improving connectivity and and improve Africa’s air traffic market share AFCAC, through the leader- executing agency.

has had a detrimental effect to the African creating a safe, secure and affordable air which is currently very low at less than 3%. ship of the African Union and While the COVID-19 has affect-

civil aviation industry and has particularly transport industry in Africa. “When operating fully SAATM, supported with the support from ICAO ed African aviation industry, it

delayed our continental efforts to develop The AUC has initiated a continental study by appropriate infrastructure and regulato- regional offices co-ordinated has presented all of us with an

the sector including the operationalization on the benefits of full liberalisation of ry framework will offer a great opportunity and mobilised industry part- opportunity to collaborate, look

of the SAATM. air transport services through the imple- for African airlines to improve connectivity ners across the aviation supply inwards and unleash the full Afri-

“It is projected that African airports will mentation of SAATM and this will be an between African countries, increase routes chain to establish a high level can potential and grow together

experience revenue loss of 51% for the important tool to convince more member and flights between the various capital task force or (HLTF). into the Africa we want. Q

year 2020 due to restrictions introduced on states to join and also to formulate policy cities of Africa and also reduce the cost of The objectives of this body

aviation activities, with the loss estimated recommendations that can be submitted to air travel,” she said. Q are amongst others to ensure *Speech shortened in places.

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