This article was prepared with support from the United Nations Economic Commission (ECA) in Africa
Air travel is the shortest and safest mode of transportation, but only 10% of Africans travel in the air, Adefunke Adejemi, executive director of the African Civil Aviation Commission, noted in a panel discussion on margins at the ECA's African Finance Ministers' Meeting.
“The advantage aviation has brought to other parts of the world is that it's almost like mass transport and is not seen in Africa,” she said.
The Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), the flagship initiative of the AU's 2063 agenda to unify the sky in Africa, is considered a low-level solution for air travel in Africa.
SAATM came into effect in 2018. AU's research suggests that its full implementation will increase passenger traffic within Africa by 51%, increase 310-47 million travelers, and reduce airfares by 26%.
By 2025, 38 countries had signed up.
Adeyemi said SAATM is currently deployed in 21 member states, which account for 85% of the African market, and 21 member states that are gradually opening up under the pilot programme.
“In the last two years, 97 new routes have opened.”
She urged African finance ministers and policymakers to view aviation as a pillar of strategic development. “Ethiopia benefits from Ethiopian Airlines and other countries need to say the same thing.”
Tackling high costs
Abdelamana Bate, executive director of the African Aviation Association, condemned the sector's high taxes and claims.
He urged policymakers to review their fiscal policy frameworks and find ways to reduce the costs of air travel and drive growth. “Traveling in Africa is too expensive,” he accused.
He urged African airlines to focus on operational efficiency to reduce travel and airfares while maintaining profits. “To improve performance, we need to improve the efficiency of ground, flight and maintenance.”
