Africa plans to have a single air transport market by 2018 , David Kajange, the Head of the Transport and Tourism Division at the African Union (AU) has announced.
Over 40 countries are expected to be signatories by then. So far, 20 African countries out of 55 have subscribed to the African single air market.
Mr Kajange, was speaking during the ongoing 29th AU summit, which is underway in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa.
The single air transport market is one of the goals of AU’s Agenda 2063, aiming to connect Africa through aviation and other transport infrastructure to achieve integration and boost intra-Africa trade.
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The single air transport market also aims to boost African nations’ tourism, economic growth and economic development.
“Africa became the most expensive air transport market in the world because of individual nations’ policies and regulations that hinder air connectivity,” said David Kajange.
According to Euroavia International, a firm specializing in consulting services for airports and aviation industry, air transport in Africa is on average twice as expensive as the world average.
Since 1980s, an African Open Skies vision has been there, culminating in the adoption of the Yamassoukro Decision of African Heads of States of November 14, 1999.
Between 2004 and 2014, an increasing business and tourism sector and growing middle class, the market share of African airlines has dropped dramatically despite sustained economic growth on the continent.The loss of market share by African airlines has been estimated by the AU to have been from 60% to below 2%.
Meanwhile the AU is mediating to resolve potential electoral disputes in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) and Gabon.MinataSamateCessouma, Commissioner for Political Affairs at the AU, said that, resolving electoral disputes is at the heart of ensuring welfare of the continent’s youth.
