Industry experts say liberalising air transport alone will not be enough to achieve the continent’s ambitions unless countries modernise air traffic management. Andrea Sack, Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation’s senior vice president, global operations/ HANDOUT AFRICA’s fragmented airspace continues to be a major hurdle to the continent’s aviation growth, industry players have said, amid a fresh push for industry reforms.
They identified priority investments and practical reforms needed to make the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) deliver tangible economic benefits. Industry experts say liberalising air transport alone will not be enough to achieve the continent’s ambitions unless countries also modernise air traffic management systems, improve cross-border coordination and strengthen the capacity to handle rising passenger and cargo volumes.
Efficient airspace management, for airlines, can also improve schedules and reduce fuel consumption. Exporters stand to benefit from more reliable cargo connections, while tourism operators could gain from stronger links between African destinations. “Africa does not need more vision documents, it needs clear priorities and a realistic path to deliver them,” said Thabani Myeza, director of Africa affairs at the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO).
“We need to agree on the priorities together and make sure our skies are ready to support the growth SAATM will bring,” he said. SAATM, an African Union initiative, seeks to liberalise air transport across participating countries, improve connectivity and create an integrated continental aviation market.