The “embarrassingly low” level of intra-African air connectivity is depriving the continent and its people from reaching their full potential.
This was the message from Aaron Munetsi, CEO of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA), at the opening of the airline body’s annual general assembly in Luanda in Angola at the weekend. AASA represents most of the airlines in the SA Development Community (Sadc).
Munetsi attributed the poor intra-Africa airline connectivity to inadequate infrastructure together with unclear policies, inconsistent regulations and rising aviation taxes and other statutory charges. He called on regional governments to open access to their markets and allow for more routes and more flights.
Furthermore, he cautioned that without a clear co-ordinated strategy for the development, production and supply of sustainable aviation fuels and improvements to airspace management to streamline traffic flows, the Sadc region’s airline industry would fail to meet the global net-zero 2050 carbon emissions target.
In his overview of the state of the industry, Munetsi painted a mixed picture. On the one hand, domestic and regional airlines are vulnerable to rising living costs, increased oil and fuel prices, inflation and a suboptimal business climate. On the other hand, economic recovery in other parts of the world is bringing growth in inbound long-haul passengers.
To deliver sustainable growth in passengers and cargo volumes, AASA recommends that governments implement more business- and trade-friendly policies, adopt visitor-friendly digitalised visas, immigration and border management systems, and invest in appropriate infrastructure.
AASA proposes six ways the authorities could address the low level of intra-Africa connectivity and unlock the economic opportunities that higher connectivity could bring. The proposals include permitting the establishment of at least 200 new intra-Africa “city pairs” by 2030. A city pair refers to departure and arrival destination airport codes on a flight itinerary in commercial aviation.
Another proposal is to ensure airports in the region are operationally fit for purpose, cost efficient and subject to industry service level agreements. Third, AASA proposes that various charges on air travel should be realistic and in line with the services and facilities provided. The airline body also proposes making intra-Africa travel visa-free for all passport holders.
The last two ways to address the challenge in AASA’s view would be to provide a regulatory framework that enables the provision of competitive and affordable intra-Africa travel and air cargo services, and to standardise training, qualifications and licences so that anyone with aviation skills acquired in one African country can work anywhere on the continent.
Kamil Alawadhi, regional vice-president for Africa and the Middle East of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said the importance of working together for Africa’s aviation industry cannot be overstated.
“I have always emphasised the importance of collaboration and I will keep doing so in the name of a safer, more efficient and more sustainable aviation industry in Africa. We don’t want to see only one part or one player of the industry succeed. We want to see a win-win situation for everyone in aviation, with positive and lasting impacts,” Alawadhi said.
“The continent faces many challenges, such as inadequate infrastructure, high operating costs, low connectivity, blocked funds and regulatory barriers, which are constraining our industry’s contribution to economic growth, social development, and regional integration.”
Alawadhi called for the adoption and implementation of common standards, harmonised policies and best practices. For him, IATA’s Focus Africa initiative is a way industry players could succeed together by collaboratively addressing the challenges Africa’s aviation industry is facing. Opportunities to collaborate would maximise efficiency and minimise the present “patchwork of inconsistent, outdated and redundant rules and regulations”.
“It is this collaborative approach that will differentiate the outcome of Focus Africa from previous efforts,” he said.
“African airlines are projected to incur a combined loss of about $484m in 2023. Operating an airline in Africa is still challenging, with economic, infrastructure and connectivity issues affecting the industry’s performance. However, despite these difficulties, the industry is moving towards profitability after the Covid-19 disruption and could turn positive as early as next year.”
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