African Skies Issue No. 55 by african_airlines

African-skies

AI takes flight

AI has the potential to reshape the entire business and emerge as a key enabler of future business success

The connectivity and affordability

Improving connectivity and market access because we all know that in Africa connectivity is a challenge

Aviation Stakeholders Convention

Strategies for the sustainability of Africa’s aviation industry beyond enhancing intra-African connectivity

The African Aviation Safety and Operations Summit

The summit focused on safety culture and organisational leadership, examining the role of leadership in fostering a robust safety culture within aviation organisations

AFRAA’s Panafrican Journal on Air Transport, Issue No. 55 January-June 2024

FOREWORD

Forwards ever!

Since the last quarter of 2023, passenger traffic carried by African airlines has reached the levels of 2019, while intra-African connectivity has surpassed the pre-COVID level. This progress is being backed by deliberate initiatives from the industry stakeholders, and AFRAA’s priorities are aligned to support the sector accordingly.

On intra-African connectivity, SAATM implementation continues to take shape, with several ongoing initiatives to speed up the process underway. At AFRAA, our actions are about advocacy toward States and airlines, quarterly reporting from member airlines on the challenges they are encountering in specific countries to help the Secretariat plan for actions, capacity building on awareness of the legal framework of SAATM and the implementation of specific actions under the 6-pillar SAATM Joint Prioritized Action Plan.

AFRAA plays a pivotal role as a member of the YD Monitoring Body, actively participating in the establishment of the Administrative Council. This Council, a significant milestone, is responsible for reporting disputes between states, airlines, or service providers, and making binding decisions. Our involvement in this process underscores our commitment to ensuring fair and effective dispute resolution within the industry. Improving connectivity is not only about SAATM. SAATM is definitely very important, but we really want to see African airlines working together to improve connectivity. This should also be done with airports because the aspect of infrastructure is also important. New routes development across the continent

is part of our priorities for 2024 and strategies to develop the market access aspect.

Safety First is another priority focus for AFRAA. The muchawaited Inaugural African Aviation Safety & Operations Summit was staged in Addis Ababa – Ethiopia, on May 15 by AFRAA and Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) under the theme: “Championing Africa Aviation Safety Together”. The summit commenced with a snapshot of the region’s aviation safety landscape and focused on the strides made, challenges addressed, and roadmap for sustaining and advancing safety in African skies. While the African aviation industry’s safety performance has improved in recent years, more progress is needed to achieve global safety targets.

Another priority for the Association is sustainability. It is very important for us to have sustainable air transport across the continent, which is why the African Air Transport Sustainability Laboratory was organised in June 2022 in Nairobi. It was hosted by AFRAA under the African Aviation Industry Group (AAIG). For us, sustainability includes economic sustainability and social and environmental sustainability. And when we talk about environmental sustainability, we talk about various initiatives such as CORSIA implementation and Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). At AFRAA, we have established a task force on SAF as well.

Among the initiatives at the centre of moving forward the needle on the sustainability of the airline industry in Africa that AFRAA is spearheading is the implementation of the Free Route Airspace (FRA) in Africa. This initiative will bring significant cost savings to airlines annually, shorter travel times for passengers, and fewer CO2 emissions into the environment. The trials along User Preferred Routes, which started in November 2023, are ongoing in 2024. The Project will continue to provide critical data to accelerate the FRA implementation in the entire African Airspace, improving air navigation efficiency and, ultimately – Better Skies For Africa.

Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé AFRAA Secretary General

Interview with Boeing Vice President Commercial Sales and Marketing Africa Anbessie Yitbarek 04 FEATURES

08 The connectivity and affordability

Improving connectivity and market access because we all know that in Africa connectivity is a challenge.

Digital Identity create a better travel experience

Digital Identity has the potential to enhance travel experiences, from the shopping phase and also right throughout the booking and the travel experience.

AI takes flight

AI has the potential to reshape the entire business and emerge as a key enabler of future business success.

Boeing empowers African youth

Boeing has invested more than $22 million in community partnerships with over 40 organisations in Africa, contributing to systemic improvements in education and the empowerment of African youth.

34 Aviation Stakeholders Convention

Strategies for the sustainability of Africa’s aviation industry beyond enhancing intra-African connectivity.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/african-airlines-association/ www.afraa.org

The African Aviation Safety and Operations Summit

The summit focused on safety culture and organisational leadership, examining the role of leadership in fostering a robust safety culture within aviation organisations.

Message from AFRAA’s Secretary General

African-skies

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Fostering synergies

Boeing’s collaborative approach to Africa’s aerospace advancement

Anbessie Yitbarek Vice President Commercial Sales and Marketing Africa

BThe Secr etary Gener Airlines Association (AFRAA),

Mr. Abder ahmane Berthe in this ex clusive intervie w with Aviation & Allied Business Journal discusses the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), MRO , manpo wer shortage, safety and SAA TM implementation amongst other topics r ele vant to

oeing’s offer to Africa is about much more than selling and supporting airplanes, stresses Boeing VP Commercial Sales and Marketing Africa Anbessie Yitbarek. It includes industrial partnerships, sustainability, and community investment.

“The opportunity for growth of the African aerospace industry is significant”, he points out.

Boeing is uncompromising about safety and security, he assures. The airframer works with airlines to continuously share with them risk mitigation tools on major identified risks. It has a long and valued relationship with regional aviation bodies such as the African Airlines Association, better known as AFRAA, and the Airlines Association of Southern Africa, or AASA,

to ensure the sharing of information and best practices. But the company also helps promote aviation safety in Africa in general. It contributes to regional safety initiatives through the Regional Aviation Safety Group, including co-producing the annual safety report. And it has helped many African countries in their efforts to obtain FAA Cat 1 status.

“Boeing works with suppliers in five African countries,” he reports. Boeing formed a joint venture with Royal Air Maroc and Safran, called Morocco Aero Technical Interconnect Systems Aerospace, to produce wire bundles and harnesses. Boeing also signed an agreement with South African aerospace company Aerosud, for the latter to manufacture airframe parts for various aircraft. Boeing added another African wire harness manufacturer to its supply chain when it worked with Ethiopian Airlines to set up a new manufacturing facility in Addis Ababa. (Ethiopian Airlines also produces thermo-acoustic insulation blankets for certain configurations of the 737 MAX, via a joint venture with Italian Company Geven-Sky Techno, which is a Boeing supplier).

Boeing is also assisting with boosting research and development across Africa. In South Africa, it worked with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research to

develop a titanium ‘road map’ as well as research opportunities to include titanium powder in aerospace manufacturing processes and products. Boeing also inaugurated the first global Ka-band antenna system and tracking facility at what is now the South African National Space Agency’s Space Operations facility. Further, in 2023, Boeing signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Morocco, under which it is supplying the Royal Moroccan Air Force with training, equipment and technical assistance to support the establishment of a metrology lab and a composite research centre. The US company is also supporting sourcing and engineering to create an advanced manufacturing research centre in Morocco.

Regarding sustainability, Boeing is working with local and international partners to research, develop and commercialise local sources of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), he points out. In 2016, Africa’s first passenger flights using SAF took place, with Boeing’s support, in South Africa, using 737 airliners. In 2023, Boeing and the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials released a study which highlighted the potential for the production of SAF in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the potential for SAF to drive a just energy transition across the continent while also creating jobs. Boeing is also working to align African science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education with sustainability, to address the challenges of climate change head-on. Boeing-supported STEM for sustainability education programmes have been launched in Egypt, Morocco and Senegal.

Boeing’s investment in African communities, has, since 2008, seen the airframer partner with over 40

organisations to support systemic improvements in education, highlights Yitbarek. Such community investment initiatives have been implemented in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritania, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, and Tanzania.

Just one of these programmes, a strategic partnership with JA Africa, has empowered 5,000 young people across eight African countries with entrepreneurial and problem-solving skills. Other partnerships in which Boeing is participating are promoting STEM education, providing training in coding, stimulating interest in careers in the space sector, training teachers, and training farmers. The partnership with Link Community Development in Ethiopia is specifically aimed at educating young girls, while 60% of the students in the ThinkYoung Coding Schools (in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania) are girls. The Hand in Hand partnership, in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania, is training especially women farmers.

Further, he notes, in cooperation with its airline customers and non-profit organisations, Boeing had carried out more than 70 humanitarian flights to African countries. These had been arranged under its Humanitarian Delivery Flight Program and had carried medicine, medical equipment and educational materials.

Of course, there are also the commercial aircraft Boeing is offering to Africa. “Airlines in Africa require flexibility in their fleets to thrive in the face of market volatility,” Yitbarek points out. “The latest generations of Boeing aircraft provide this flexibility and operating efficiency

The opportunity for growth of the African aerospace industry is significant.

while seamlessly integrating with the existing fleets. The 737 MAX shares pilot, technician and spares commonality with its predecessor, the 737 NG. Once in operation, the MAX provides over 20% fuel burn improvement, a 21% improvement in carbon emissions and a 50% smaller noise footprint. We forecast that more than 80% of African demand for widebody airlines will be in the small- to mid-size category, and the 787 Dreamliner is ideal to meet the need. And for those carriers that require large widebodies, Boeing offers the 777 family, which brings lower operating costs, better passenger economics, and greater cargo capacity than its competitors.”

A number of leading African airlines have already experienced these advantages, having acquired the latest-generation Boeing commercial airplanes, Yitbarek highlights. Thus, adopting the 787 Dreamliner has allowed Kenya Airways to implement, for the first time, a direct service between Nairobi and New York. Likewise, the 787 has allowed EgyptAir to institute direct flights between Cairo

The

and Washington, DC. Dreamliners are also operated by Air Austral, Air Tanzania, Ethiopian Airlines and Royal Air Maroc. And TAAG Angolan Airlines has ordered 787s to modernise its widebody fleet –which is currently composed entirely of Boeing 777s.

And talking of the 777, he notes that Ethiopian Airlines has become the first African carrier to order the latest version of the family, the 777X, with an agreement to purchase eight 777-9s, with options for another 12.

Secr etary Gener Airlines Association (AFRAA), Mr. Abder ahmane Berthe in this ex clusive intervie w with Aviation & Allied Business Journal discusses the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), MRO , manpo wer shortage, safety and SAA TM implementation amongst other topics r ele vant to

first African airline to operate the larger 737-9 variant. The carrier received the second of its two 737-9s in March. Taking all generations of the 737 into account, including freighter variants, the type is pretty much ubiquitous in Africa, Yitbarek observes, being operated by 55 airlines, including the abovementioned MAX customers. In addition to 737 freighters, 767F dedicated cargo carriers are serving African operators with distinction.

Earlier models of the 777 are currently operated in Africa by Air Austral, Air Zimbabwe, Alexandria Airlines, CEIBA Intercontinental, EgyptAir and Ethiopian Airlines, as well as the aforementioned TAAG Angolan Airlines.

As for the single-aisle segment, last November Ethiopian Airlines ordered another twenty 737 MAX airplanes, with options for a further 21. Air Algérie ordered eight 737 MAXs in June. And, in October, Air Tanzania took delivery of its first 737 MAX and became the

Naturally, Boeing provides the necessary services to keep current and future fleets operating safely, efficiently and reliably, as well as training solutions for airline staff and modification services to improve the experiences of passengers. These include digital solutions such as the Boeing Maintenance Performance Toolbox, Airplane Health Management, and crew management solutions, plus a wide range of flight deck and operations solutions. These provide African airlines with real-time access to maintenance, flight and aircraft performance information to optimise efficiency and reduce fleet operating costs.

GE Aerospace, Software as a Service helps airlines operate at peak safety and efficiency — faster than ever before.

“Today, we have connectivity and affordability issues which need to be resolved as soon as possible.”

The Secr etary Gener Airlines Association (AFRAA), Mr. Abder ahmane Berthe in this ex clusive intervie w with Aviation & Allied Business Journal discusses the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), MRO , manpo wer shortage, safety and SAA TM implementation amongst other topics r ele vant to

Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé, Secretary General, AFRAA speaks with Aviation & Allied Business Magazine

Priorities for AFRAA

At AFRAA, we have a 5-year strategic objective and every year we define our priorities. For 2024, we have agreed on four priorities. The first one is safety; because safety is very critical for our business. In this regard, AFRAA successfully held its Inaugural Safety and Operations Summit this year on 15 May in Addis Ababa, back-to-back with the Stakeholders Convention.

The second priority is improving connectivity and market access because we all know that in Africa connectivity is a challenge. Improving connectivity is not only about SAATM. Of course, SAATM is very important, but we really want to see African airlines working together to improve connectivity, and this should be done with airports also because the aspect of infrastructure is also important.

New route development across the continent is part of our priorities for 2024 and we are working together with the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) and ACI Africa on strategies to develop the market access aspect.

The third priority for us is sustainability. It is very important for us to have sustainable air transport across the continent and that is the reason that the African air transport sustainability Laboratory was organised in June 2022 in Nairobi. It was hosted by AFRAA under the African Aviation Industry Group (AAIG). For us, sustainability includes economic sustainability, and social and environmental sustainability as well. And when we talk about environmental sustainability, we talk about various initiatives such as CORSIA implementation and Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). At AFRAA, we have established a task force on SAF as well.

Lastly, the fourth priority is to continue implementing our strategic plan in 2024. It is also our priority to ensure that we are following our strategic plan implementation.

AFRAA, African airlines and SAF adoption

Attaining Net-zero emissions by 2050 is a target we endorse at AFRAA and in this regard, we think that African airlines should also be on board. I say this because some people are of the opinion that Africa should not be concerned with environmental issues because we are not polluting much in comparison to the world, but air transport is a global industry and we have to be concerned because in other regions it is a concern. It is a global concern. In fact, at AFRAA, in 2022 during the Assembly, we made a resolution about the environment.

The key points of this resolution were to encourage airlines to continue to improve the efficiency of their operations and to reduce CO2 emissions in this regard, I talked about the Laboratory we organised, one of the projects of the Laboratory was the Free Routing Area. The objective of the Free Routing Area is to reduce flight times for operations and consequently to also reduce the carbon footprint.

We kicked off this project in Addis Ababa early in November 2023 and the trials are going on and so far, it is very successful. Trial flights have been operated under the Free Routing Airspace concept from East Africa and West Africa and from East Africa to South Africa and the fuel burn reduction is substantial and it brings a lot of cost savings for airlines.

Airlines Association (AFRAA), ahmane Berthe in this w with Aviation & Allied Business Journal discusses the adoption of Sustainable Aviation , manpo wer shortage, TM implementation ele vant to

The second point is really to urge all stakeholders to put in their policies the target of reduction of CO2 emissions and also to facilitate its implementation: fuel-producing companies need to provide in volume the number of SAFs needed for operations of airlines. It is also important at government levels to have a policy regarding the implementation of SAF. Also, you know currently, there is a lot of research by aircraft and engine manufacturers to improve the efficiency of airframe and propulsion technology for aeroplanes and of course, on the Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), I talked about the Free Rouring Airspace earlier.

Most importantly, we need also to make sure that at airports we have the infrastructure needed to support the transition to SAF. So, it should be a joint effort of all stakeholders to implement SAF. For that reason, we have a task

force to align airlines and stakeholders for the implementation of this project. We think that collaboration with necessary stakeholders, government bodies, research institutions and other relevant organisations to promote, facilitate and accelerate the adoption of SAF across the continent is critical. However, I want to add here that we talk a lot about environmental sustainability. As I said for 2024 priorities, for us sustainability is not only about environmental sustainability; the economic and social aspects are also very important. As you know, there is a lot to be done regarding the economic sustainability of African airlines.

MRO capacity and economic sustainability of African airlines

This is a very good question because you know for airlines, fuel and maintenance are the biggest part of the operational costs. We always talk about the fuel price; it is something that also needs to be put into consideration. Across the African continent, we have some African operators which have very good MRO facilities. However, we have many cases where operators on many occasions send their aircraft, and spare parts for overhaul outside of the continent and this is very costly and also brings some disruptions in terms of their operations. It is very important and we encourage our members to cooperate in terms of maintenance.

One of the projects is in line maintenance, preventing every airline from carrying spare parts, for example. This project is going on and also pooling spare parts because having a stock of spare parts is very expensive and in Africa, we have many airlines operating the same type

of aircraft, so we can consider pooling these spare parts. We do believe in the next two to three years, these projects will relieve the operations of our member airlines in terms of maintenance support.

Skills shortage amongst African airlines?

Airline business involves a lot of skills. It varies from commercial to maintenance, pilots, it is very diverse. We have a lack of human resources across the continent. In many cases training this human resource is also very expensive mainly in regard to pilots or maintenance engineers, for example. And if you consider that by 2040 the traffic will double according to statistics, it means that we have more aircraft operating and consequently a need for more human resources. It is very important to have a vision and policy to develop more capacity across the continent. For that reason, at AFRAA, we have proposed to our Executive Committee, and it has been approved, to put in place what we call the African Airline Training Fund. This Training Fund will be used to develop capacity across the continent for the operations of our member airlines. We observe that we will be able to get financial institutions to support this training fund. The Fund will be administered by a board not only AFRAA. The funding institutions will also be part of the management of the fund and will be involved in the definition of how the funds will be used, and what kind of training will be funded for the interest of the African airlines operation.

In line with AFRAA’s vision and mission, the Technical Operations and Training Committee also is providing a forum where our members will discuss the needs of our member airlines regarding cost reduction initiatives and how to enhance safety. This is because we need human resources regarding safety

We really want to see African airlines working together to improve connectivity, and this should be done with airports also because the aspect of infrastructure is also important.

standards and the meeting of human resource needs of the air transport industry to ensure airline personnel are equipped to respond to global standards and needs for airline operation is critical.

At AFRAA, we have had a training unit for many years now which has been working very successfully. Every year we train many of our member airlines. Apart from training, getting human resources, how to get a job for them and to retain them is also important because we have seen in the past many African skills were lost. At the continent level, every airline needs to have a policy to retain human resources.

Safety improvement and attractive and friendly financing and insurance rates?

I don’t have the exact data regarding the insurance aspect of it and I am sure that it has an impact because many years back

Allied

Africa was considered unsafe in terms of airlines but things have changed.

We have the Abuja safety targets and the involvement of all stakeholders to improve the safety level across the continent and that is why I say safety is one of the objectives of the priorities of AFRAA for 2024. We are launching the inaugural Safety and Operations Summit in Addis Ababa this year. It will be a forum for operators to discuss best practices in the industry.

Business Journal discusses the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), MRO , manpo wer shortage, safety and SAA TM implementation amongst other topics r ele vant to

safety. For the safety summit I talked about, we are partnering with the Flight Safety Foundation to stage this very important event. It is a first in Africa and it will be very important for our members to attend and make recommendations on how to maintain the current safety level because without safety, it will be impossible to develop airline business across the continent.

Update on blocked airlines funds in Africa

We have been working under SAATM with IATA and AFCAC on a project to enhance safety for airlines on the continent and this project is funded by the African Development Bank. At AFRAA, through our Consulting Unit, we are assisting our members to get to the safety standard of IOSA, and those are the actions we are putting forward to improve

Blocked fund is really a big challenge for airlines’ operations. It is something which is evolving from month to month; it can impact the cash of airlines and also their operation. At AFRAA, we are working with IATA on it and our approach is advocacy. When we see that we have an issue, we join our efforts to see how to release the funds.

The problem we have is that in some countries when you have blocked funds for more than one year, and then you have at the same time the devaluation of the currency, then the released funds will reduce at the end of the day. So, we will continue our efforts to tackle the issue of blocked funds but it is a really big concern today for operations and for that reason, we have created a Blocked Fund Taskforce at AFRAA and we have many airlines as part of this taskforce. We are working with airlines on measures to address the issue of blocked funds and the next meeting of the task force will be in April. We will continue our efforts in the advocacy to reduce the impact of blocked funds on the airline’s operation.

Implementation level of SAATM/YD

I can’t say I am satisfied because the level of implementation is still low. I was in Lome in March 2024 regarding some activity of SAATM and I’m informed that the total number of SAATM States is 38. However, we have many states who signed but they don’t implement SAATM. There is no supranational power to force them to implement it. AFCAC came up with the concept of the Pilot Implementation Programme (PIP) in December 2022 and 21 states have signed.

The objective is to start with the States which are willing and ready and to be honest, in many cases, the reason it is not implemented is that some States want to protect their national carriers. But in my view, this is not right because in terms of market access, it is a matter of reciprocity. If you block airlines from another country

to operate traffic rights, the country will also block your airline. I think it is important that airlines discuss and agree and then have civil aviation follow and grant traffic rights. We have an annual meeting of all SAATM stakeholders. We have six pillars of action, and these pillars include advocacy, communication, and resource mobilisation as well, there are some technical assistance aspects of it and also enhancement of African airlines collaboration.

As part of AFRAA’s efforts, it is also important to build capacity and awareness regarding SAATM. For that reason, we organised in Nairobi from 18-20 March 2024 a workshop in collaboration with the African Union Commission and AFCAC for African airlines to build capacity regarding the regulatory instruments of SAATM. These include the powers, functions and operations of the Executing Agency, consumer protection, competition

regulation, the Dispute Settlement Mechanism and the revised African Civil Aviation Policy. Also, I am currently in Lome because we are putting in place the Administrative Council of the Monitoring Body. For the implementation of YD, we have a Monitoring Body which AFRAA is part of. The Dispute Settlement was the last element of the legal framework to be put in place. We already have a Secretariat based in Dakar and we need to have an administrative Council. The role of the Administrative Council in place, which will report to the Monitoring Body, in cases of disputes between states, airlines or service providers is to settle the disputes and make a decision which should be binding on the parties. We are in the process of recruiting the members. We have five members, one per region and one alternate. This Dispute Settlement Mechanism will be very important to bring confidence at the level of our member airlines regarding SAATM implementation.

Challenges and prospects for the African airline industry going forward

We are in the process of recovery from COVID-19, and since 2022, we have seen a trend of recovery. However, we need to tackle the challenges of the highcost environment, blocked funds, and market access issues. We have talked a lot. We need to take effective actions and decision-makers need to make the right decisions to support the industry and to transform the air transport environment in Africa. For the future, we think that the growth potential is very high in Africa.

Traffic will continue to grow and will double by 2040 and also you know cargo activities will grow on the continent. If you look at the GDP growth of the continent, it is one of the highest in the world. GDP per capita in Africa which is today very low is on an average of 15% of the average GDP per capita globally.

And we know that GDP per capita is critical for the affordability of air transport. The problem in Africa is that the GDP per capita is low and at the same time because the cost environment is high, we have also high fares. It is very difficult in this type of situation to develop air transport. We will continue working towards creating a conducive environment in terms of the affordability of air transport.

There are other complimentary projects such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Because the level of trade between African states is very low, less than 20%, while in other regions it is 50 or 60%, this AfCFTA project will increase the level of trade and consequently will impact the air transport industry. Also, we think that tourism development is important because in Africa, today, when we talk about tourism,

we talk about tourists coming from outside of the continent; we need also to create a flow of intra-Africa tourism as well.

Visa openness is something which needs to be improved because currently, many African citizens need a visa to travel from one country to another; so there is also a project of the African Union Commission to facilitate visas for African travellers. I consider that the future is very bright for Africa in terms of air transport development and we need to create the conditions to support it because air transport is critical for the economic integration of the continent. We see that other modes of transportation are very weak across the continent. How can you travel from Dakar to Johannesburg or Cape Town without air transport? It is not possible. Unfortunately, today, we have connectivity and affordability issues which need to be resolved as soon as possible.

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AFRAA

“Better skies for Af rica”

Togeth er, lets build th e Af rica we want

Collaboration between all the stakeholders is important in ensuring the successful operation of the Market and the Af rican Union Commission avails to work with the industry to ﬂy higher this Agenda 2063 ﬂagship project –The Single Af rican Air Transport Market.

DR. AMANI ABOU-ZEID African Union Commissioner: Infrastructure and Energy

We call upon all stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment to SAATM and work together towards the realization of a unified and efficient air transport market in Africa. Together, we can unlock the full potential of African aviation and contribute to the continent’s sustainable development and prosperity.

MR. ABDÉRAHMANE BERTHÉ

AFRAA Secretary General

We have made much progress laying the foundation for implementation of SAATM and we must stay the course building on current momentum to strengthen existing partnerships and create new mutually beneﬁcial relationships to realise this objective.

MS. ADEFUNKE ADEYEMI Secretary General of AFCAC

Why is the SA ATM so impor tant?

Af rica is not well connected in terms of air services.

In many cases, the only way to get to countries within Af rica is to travel for days or through other continents. This lack of connectivity is making Af rica lose out immensely on socio-economic beneﬁts and growth opportunities.

The SA ATM is therefore a clear path for a more prosperous and secure Af rican future.

What does SA ATM mean in practice?

Eliminates the need for separate bilateral air service agreements (BASAs) between individual countries.

Promotes multilateralism for air transport in Af rica, as envisaged under the YD, with a view to making the entire Af rican aviation market a single market.

Any current or future air service agreement signed between any or all of the thirtyseven member States, must be YD compliant and must meet the below requirements:

Free exercises of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th f reedom trafﬁc to Eligible Airlines;

Liberalized air tariffs;

Unrestricted f requency and capacity;

Full liberalization of cargo services; Recognition of the Powers and function of the Executing Agency – Af rican Civil Aviation Commission; Adhere to the uniform rules for fair competition, consumer protection and other regulations.

Af rica needs to move f rom the current situation of low choice, high fares and step into a new age of affordable and accessible air transport.

Essential pillars for a successful SA ATM

Continuous improvement in Safety and Security

Optimized inf rastructure and establishment of a seamless Airspace Architecture.

Strengthening the capacity of implementing agencies and Member States

Regional ﬁnancial performance recovering, but still varied

Airline net proﬁt levels across regions (nominal terms)

The effective operationalization of the Single Af rica Air Transport Market (SAATM) through notiﬁcation of implementation of the SAATM concrete measures.

Regulatory & policy harmonization.

Reduced taxes and charges (Competitiveness) Ease of intra-Af rican mobility (Visas/customs)

Human capacity development (Skills and personnel pipeline)

Multi-sector collaboration (Tourism, Finance, Health, Agriculture, Education etc.)

While the Af rican market has much economic potential, there are considerable challenges that need to be addressed. These include high user charges and taxes, inadequate airport inf rastructure, unfavourable regulatory environment, undercapitalization of Af rican airlines and insufﬁcient management expertise. These factors, amongst others, have contributed signiﬁcantly to the low

of Af rican airlines.

With the implementation of SAATM, intra-Af rican connectivity will develop and there will be more growth opportunities for Af rican airlines. As a result, aviation’s role as an economic driver will grow signiﬁcantly.

MAY 2024 Progress on SAATM IMPLEMENTATION

37 countries

have signed the Solemn Commitment: Angola, Benin,

Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sao Tomé & Principe, South Africa, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Fifth freedom trafﬁc capacity in Africa has increased from 15% in 2018, to 19% in 2023.

10 out o f 31

Operationalization of the Secretariat of the Dispute Settlement Mechanism (DSM) The process of recruitment and selection of the Administrative Council members of the DSM on course.

Establishment of the Administrative Council of the Monitoring Body on course. In cases of disputes between states, airlines or service providers the Administrative Council’s role is to settle the disputes and make a decision which should be binding on the parties.

Seven (7) SAATM-PIP Airshows have been conducted in seven States (Senegal, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Namibia, Angola, Mozambique and Gambia) to promote the Beneﬁts of SAATM for continental connectivity and integration.

The 37 SAATM States

• The 37 SAATM States Constitute 67% of the AU member States

• The total population of the 37 SAATM States is more than 1,150 million people

• This Account for 77% of the population on the African continent

• The Combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the 37 SAATM States is slightly above USD 2283 billion in 2023, representing approximately 79.9% of Africa’s GDP

A joined up approach is essential

The SAATM will be more successful when all stakeholders work together to actualise its objectives. There is need to address existing concerns by States and Airlines.

Governments need to work closely with airlines and other aviation stakeholders to formulate, promote or implement policies that support air transport growth.

Civil Aviation Authorities have the responsibility for maintaining minimum interim standards of safety and security as recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and in accordance with their national laws.

This will greatly accelerate airline cooperation and collaboration as all parties (particularly passengers) are assured of uniformity across the continent.

The progress made under the SAATM thus far has been as a result of collaboration by various groups of stakeholders. These have been a combination of ‘Specialised Technical Committees’, ‘Monitoring Bodies’ and ‘Ministerial Working Groups’. Without the strong collaboration across these entities, the implementation of the SAATM would not have progressed as much as it has now. Collaboration works!

How can Digital Identity create a better travel experience for us all?

We live in a digital world. But traces of the old way of doing things continue to be found. Why, for example, must we still take a paper visa to an airport check-in desk, or queue at the hotel front desk to present our passports? There must be a better way.

Indeed, there is.

AUTHOR: Mr. François Blanc Managing Director, Traveler ID, Nexwave, Amadeus

Here, I want to explore the concept of Digital Identity (Digital ID), its growth, potential, and impact on the end-to-end journey. This is an innovative technology,

one poised to have a significant impact across the travel ecosystem in the coming years, and Amadeus is at the forefront of its implementation to deliver an exceptional travel experience.

The potential of Digital Identity

First, let’s be clear about what we are talking about.

Digital Identity is usually defined as a one-to-one relationship between a person and their online presence. It can consist of multiple accounts, credentials, and entitlements, all associated with an individual.

Today, travellers typically must share some form of identity – on paper, on a device – at many stages of their journey: from login to a travel website, to checkin, airport security, boarding and hotel reception to name just a few.

Amadeus Travel Ready by Traveler ID is our ambitious plan to simplify the situation. The solution offers travel companies a chance to automate and digitise passport verification processes at check-in, removing unnecessary manual friction and associated queues across the journey.

It was launched in 2021 to overcome challenges presented during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to help verify health documentation in a digital manner. In less than a year, over 20 airlines offered

this solution to travellers and verified over 25 million documents, supporting the industry recovery. These numbers have continued to grow.

Amadeus Travel Ready currently verifies digitised documents such as passports and health documents before travellers reach the airport. It provides the means to automate travellers’ identification and document verification, at any travel checkpoint. Air Europa recently announced using the solution to verify passports for its international travellers.

In the coming months, Amadeus will provide the possibility to implement additional functionalities, facilitating the biometric identification processes at the airport via travel companies’ mobile applications.

We are agnostic in the roll-out of this technology. For example, we have deployed new technology with a partner at Narita Airport in Japan. Passengers can now check-in at one of several biometric kiosks where their facial image is captured and verified against their passport. Once the verification process is done, passengers do not need to show any physical documents from bag drop through to security and boarding.

Amadeus supplied the kiosks and ABD units fitted with biometric cameras and application software that works with our partner’s facial recognition system. Working together, we are able to create a better experience for all.

(link to the image high res. https://amadeus.com/images/en/blog/2024/02/digital-identity-potential-2.png)

A successful industry collaboration

Figures from the IATA Global Passenger survey reveals three quarters of passengers would be eager to use biometrics instead of passports or boarding passes. As the benefits of Digital Identity come into focus, more people are seeking to exploit them.

But it is not just airlines that can benefit – the entire travel ecosystem can take advantage of this technology. At the centre of this ecosystem, Amadeus is working to bring stakeholders together to drive adoption and make the most of the Digital ID opportunities.

We are working alongside authorities such as the European Union on the

customers, replacing the account creation step. For the travel company, it enables the creation of an attractive, personalised offer based on the traveller’s identity, frequent flyer programme and preferences shared in previous steps.

During the booking phase, Digital ID could streamline the process by providing a ‘one-click order experience’, including traveller’s identity and payment details. When fully deployed, travel providers will be able to offer the instant onboarding and payment experience travellers have become used to in modern e-retail in a cyber secure manner, thanks to their personal device security.

The Secr etary Gener Airlines Association (AFRAA), Mr. Abder ahmane Berthe in this ex clusive intervie w with Aviation & Allied Business Journal discusses the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), MRO , manpo wer shortage, safety and SAA TM implementation amongst other topics r ele vant to

development of the EU Digital Identity Wallet, while also participating in the expansion of standards such as IATA One ID and W3C. In 2023, Amadeus took part in the First Integrated Shopping to Travel Journey Using Digital Identity, with IATA and over 10 partners and will continue to contribute to this initiative in 2024.

Our vision for a better travel experience

Digital Identity has the potential to enhance travel experiences, from the shopping phase and also right throughout the booking and the travel experience.

During the shopping phase, Digital ID sharing could be used for instant onboarding, even with first-time

On the trip, Digital ID could be used to provide a personalised experience and streamline processes too. For instance, upon arrival at a hotel, the technology can be used to automatically check-in, offer directions to a room and adjust settings, such as temperature and lighting, based on known preferences.

Finally, Digital ID could enhance posttravel engagement. By understanding an experience, businesses can personalise their communications, providing relevant content to inspire future trips. Reviews left through a verified ID could also be more trusted and handled with appropriate diligence. Business travellers could also benefit from a smoother process for travel expense reporting.

The digital future is arriving, and Amadeus is working with all travel players – from airlines to hotels, car rental companies and agents – who want to make use of this innovative technology today. Join us on this exciting journey!

AI takes flight:

How artificial intelligence is reshaping the customer experience in the aviation industry

Finding new ways of staying ahead of customer demands

There is no question that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) will have an increasing impact on the commercial aviation industry. Adoption is still in its early stages, but AI has the potential to reshape the entire business and emerge as a key enabler of future business success. While artificial intelligence will impact all activities in the value chain, the area of customer experience (CX) is particularly poised to quickly leverage AI and reap its benefits. From airports to airlines, companies that truly align their business around CX are leading the industry. But even for these leaders, staying ahead of ever-changing customer demands and delivering exceptional experiences is a constant challenge. The industry is facing expectations for customised offerings that are intuitive,

frictionless, and contextualised in real time, but which also span all touchpoints and customer journeys. While the resulting complexity can be perceived as overwhelming, a targeted use of AI offers the most promising management response.

The Secr etary Gener Airlines Association (AFRAA), Mr. Abder ahmane Berthe in this ex clusive intervie w with Aviation & Allied Business Journal discusses the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), MRO , manpo wer shortage, safety and SAA TM implementation amongst other topics r ele vant to

The AI boom: Navigating between hype and real business value

Artificial intelligence has a rather long history, characterised by uneven evolutionary steps in terms of business and societal adoption. However, significant developments in recent years have led to the current AI boom, with artificial intelligence being one of the hottest topics worldwide. In particular, starting with the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in November 2022, the public is less and less likely to think of AI as an elusive collection of technologies and

is increasingly experiencing its actual practical uses and capabilities. Just over a year later, seemingly every major tech company has unveiled advanced versions of their own AI models, with Google’s Gemini seen as the most likely challenger to the market leader, OpenAI’s GPT-4 (backed by Microsoft).

Aviation industry leaders today face an internal and external environment that is extremely challenging to manage. They have the difficult task of distinguishing between hype and applications that are achievable and deliver real business value – while still developing and pursuing a long-term vision and strategy. At the same time, euphoric future scenarios are increasingly facing backlash from parts of society and the customer base due to AI-related fears, including privacy, discrimination, lack of control, and even

job loss. In addition, unresolved questions about legal implications and evolving regulations are gaining momentum. Navigating these rapidly changing conditions requires a carefully considered approach. And, particularly in the area of CX, no AI initiative will achieve lasting success without the emerging currency of artificial intelligence: consumer trust.

Leveraging

AI will elevate CX to unprecedented

levels

However, there is no reason to be pessimistic – quite the opposite!

For CX leaders in the aviation industry, it is essential to follow an incremental and well-defined plan that allows for the necessary flexibility to respond to fast-moving changes in the business environment. In doing so, AI will open up new opportunities that can take the customer experience to a level that was previously unattainable. Superior CX is based on recognising, understanding, and responding to the needs and desires of each individual. At the same time, it is important not to downplay the human touch as a critical pillar of CX, as customer-facing employees are at the heart of the travel experience. However, it is equally undeniable that data represents the backbone of the customer experience. In the past, many organisations focused on data collection, but quickly realised that they were unable to unlock the potential of the incredible amount of data that accumulates during modern online and offline customer journeys. This is where AI becomes the game changer. Making large data sets manageable is a core capability of artificial intelligence. But, of course, this is only one fundamental benefit of using this type of

technology. AI can be seen as an umbrella term for various fields – ranging from machine learning (ML), natural language processing (NLP), and expert systems to speech recognition and machine vision, to name just a few. Although the level of sophistication in these fields varies, the true value of artificial intelligence lies in its contribution to how an organisation collects, analyses, and acts on data.

Exploring the wide range of current uses cases

The potential applications of artificial intelligence to improve the passenger experience already span every stage of the travel journey. In doing so, AI is predestined to deliver direct benefits to both customers and businesses. This is because many improvements are based on both operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Investing in artificial intelligence is therefore a very worthwhile investment, as it can not only optimise the use of internal resources in the short term, but also reap the benefits of a close customer relationship in the long term.

Based on the recent disruptive developments in the field of Generative AI (GenAI), use cases from marketing and service communications are the frontrunners for implementation, as these applications are particularly suited to deliver measurable improvements quickly. Across the globe, airlines are starting to significantly enhance their chatbot and virtual agent solutions with AI technology. For example, in 2023, IndiGo launched a new chatbot that leverages the power of cutting-edge GenAI. Customers benefit from instant and personalised support that is available around the clock.

AI has the potential to reshape the entire business and emerge as a key enabler of future business success.

AUTHOR: Mr. Thomas Götz Consultant, Lufthansa Consulting

In addition, the multilingual solution is capable of responding to both typed and verbal requests, and not only responds to them, but actually performs essential corresponding tasks such as booking or check-in. This seamless experience not only increases customer satisfaction –it also has an immediate business impact, with IndiGo reporting a 75% reduction in the customer service agent workload due to tangible improvements in efficiency and effectiveness. Ethiopian Airlines has also already achieved great success with the use of AI-based engagement solutions during the pandemic. By using machine learning technologies from its solution partner Genesys, for example, significant improvements in service levels (25% increase) and faster response times (60% increase) were reached in its contact centre − a significant improvement in the experience for their customers, achieved without additional staff.

Other use cases that are already being implemented also focus on service or marketing. For example, artificial intelligence is being used to analyse customer sentiment and enable more granular segmentation. Employing GenAI, these results are then used to proactively initiate service recovery and automatically create content to support service or marketing campaigns. Internally, the technology can support customerfacing agents with real-time, contextual information and enhanced decisionmaking, while externally it is being used to further empower passengers to travel more independently throughout the customer journey by using self-service options.

Nevertheless, these applications represent just a glimpse of the possible areas where AI can help to deliver a much more convenient, stress-free, personalised, and satisfying travel experience. On a broader scale, artificial intelligence is enabling radical improvements in operations that address the root causes of serious pain points along the journey. From biometric passenger identification to queue management, from operational and staffing planning to delay forecasting and baggage handling, all are poised to improve performance for the benefit of the customer. In addition, recommendations of Next Best Offers will further personalise the traveller experience, enabling optimised pricing and increased ancillary revenues.

The way forward on the path to success

In conclusion, artificial intelligence is not only here to stay – its application is

already on the verge of becoming one of the most important success factors in the aviation industry. While the use cases and stages of development may still vary considerably from one business area to another, the customer experience is an area where AI is ready to take off. Airlines and airports have the opportunity to dramatically improve the experience they provide and deliver real value to their customers, while simultaneously realising cost savings, increasing revenue, and achieving new levels of operational efficiency and effectiveness.

The important message is that the use of AI is not only reserved for companies that already have a high level of digital maturity or can draw on pronounced internal capabilities. In most cases, it is not necessary to develop AI solutions in-house, as the market of AI solution providers is growing rapidly, and initial use cases can be implemented with a

relatively low budget. In this way, initial experience can be gained at all levels, quickly leveraging the benefits, and laying the basis for scaling at a later stage.

However, given the significant implications for future success, managers are advised to make a clear distinction between short- and long-term actions. As mentioned, it is essential to gain experience and learnings from AI as soon as possible. The focus should be on proven use cases that can be implemented quickly, such as virtual agents or sentiment analysis for service recovery. Nevertheless, managers should also not rush into comprehensive AI programmes. They must ensure that their approach to AI is aligned with the overall strategy, follows a clearly structured road map, is synchronised with the necessary development of internal capabilities, and, last but not least, does not outpace the customer base.

Since 2008, Boeing has invested more than $22 million in community partnerships with over 40 organisations in Africa, contributing to systemic improvements in education and the empowerment of African youth. Almost 60% of Africa’s population is under 25 years old, which means that these initiatives directly contribute to a brighter future for the continent.

Boeing empowers African youth to pursue aerospace careers

The Secr etary Gener Airlines Association (AFRAA),

At the heart of Boeing’s strategy lies a commitment to nurturing 21st century skills. It’s not just about textbooks and classrooms; it’s about forging pathways to success. From workforce preparation, STEM education, and entrepreneurship to social equity and women empowerment, these community programmes span across Algeria, the Democratic Republic

of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, and Tanzania.

Nurturing long-term partnerships with universities across Africa, Boeing is laser-focused on building a strong talent pipeline for the aerospace industry, enriching engineering curricula and fostering research and development. Two great examples are Boeing’s partnerships with the Addis Ababa Institute of Technology in Ethiopia and Cairo University in Egypt. Every year, around 200 students from each university engage in activities funded by Boeing grants.

Preparing the aviation workforce in Africa is crucial, as Boeing forecasts a need for 69,000 new aviation professionals over the next 20 years. An important element of the company’s outreach efforts is the STEM School in Ethiopia, a collaborative endeavour with Ethiopian Airlines and ThinkYoung. Hosted at the Ethiopian Aviation University, this programme imparts practical insights from Ethiopia’s flagship carrier, inspiring school students to pursue further education and careers in aviation.

Additionally, Boeing’s partnership with Digital Divide Data (DDD) in Kenya underscores its commitment to enhancing the employability prospects for the youth aged 18-24. Through the Employability in Aviation training programme, Boeing and DDD empower young Kenyans with digital literacy, communication and aviation-specific skills, laying a robust foundation for internships and entry-level jobs in aviation.

It’s no secret that individual entrepreneurs and small businesses are the bedrock

of economic growth, innovation, and transformative change within their communities. Boeing’s partnership with Junior Achievement Africa has empowered 5,000 young people across the continent with entrepreneurial and problem-solving skills, fostering grassroots economic revitalisation and real-world business solutions.

Looking beyond terrestrial realms, Boeing collaborates with the Future African Space Explorer’s STEM Academy (FASESA) to nurture interest in space education and careers among African youth. The Pathways to Space programme, launched in 2024 in Ethiopia, Nigeria and Tanzania, harnesses Boeing's 60-year experience in space exploration and FASESA's educational methodologies

to inspire budding space engineers, scientists and maybe even astronauts.

Joining hands with additional partners, Boeing supported the setup of STEM Centres, coding schools, STEM fairs and other activities to boost STEM education across Africa.

in their communities and beyond. We strongly believe in the pivotal role that education and youth empowerment play in promoting sustainable practices”.

Empowering women is a central focus of all Boeing’s community initiatives, with an average female participation rate of 50%.

As the impact of climate change becomes more pressing worldwide, Boeing and non-profits have spearheaded educational initiatives in Egypt, Morocco, and Senegal, emphasising the nexus between STEM education and environmental stewardship. Kuljit Ghata-Aura, president of Boeing Middle East, Türkiye, Africa, and Central Asia, said: “Our programmes aim to provide the youth with the required know-how to become catalysts for sustainable development, driving change

In Ethiopia, Boeing and Link Community Development helped improve learning for over 60,000 girls, while in Tanzania, Boeing and Hand in Hand provide entrepreneurship training for women farmers. Talent diversity is non-negotiable for a sustainable future in Africa.

Boeing and its partners continue to expand the geography and reach of community efforts across Africa, ensuring that more people have access to quality education and career opportunities.

Roadmap to Free Route Airspace Reality in Africa

What is the Free Route Airspace (FRA)?

A Free Route Airspace (FRA) is a specified airspace within which airlines may freely plan a route between a defined entry point and a defined exit point, with the possibility to route via intermediate (published or unpublished) waypoints, without reference to the Air Traffic Service (ATS) route network, subject to airspace availability. Within this airspace, flights remain subject to air traffic control.

Why the FRA?

States/ANSPs can overcome the challenges in Air Traffic Management efficiency;

Removal of constraints imposed by fixed route structure;

Optimized airspace capacity;

Flight efficiency and flexibility;

The full benefits of efficiency of FRA can only be achieved if it is deployed over large areas and; appropriated measures are taken to reduce the associated safety risks.

Environmental protection.

“Implementing the FRA will annually bring significant cost savings to airlines, shorter travel times to passengers and reduced CO2 emissions into the environment. The trials, which started in November 2023, will continue to provide critical data to accelerate the FRA implementation in the entire African Airspace, improving air navigation efficiency.

” Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé – AFRAA Secretary General.

FRA in other regions

Regions that have developed and successfully implemented FRA concept of operations have demonstrated that there are clear benefits to airspace users as well as improvement of airspace utilization.

Lisbon Flight Information Region FIR showed the way in 2009

The European airspace is busy!Yet, Portugal pioneered FRA implementation by removing air traffic service routes in the country’s airspace and plotting entry-exit points around it.

Benefits of FRA in Lisbon FIR in 2009

Currently, almost all busy European airspace is FRA

Storyline for FRA in Africa to become a reality

2019

• African region agreed to plan and implement a Free Route Area over Africa. The progress was very slow.

• AFI Planning and Implementation Regional Group (APIRG) conclusions passed at Accra in 2019 and the FRA Project Management Team commences active work towards FRA implementation.

2022

• The first African Aviation Sustainability Laboratory to revamp Air Transport in Africa is hosted by AFRAA, from 27 June to 1 July 2022, at AFRAA Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

• The LAB identified five projects that generate air traffic or enhance regional air service affordability. The Free Routing Airspace trials project is one of the five retained to accelerate the implementation of FRA in Africa.

2023

• On 2 November - FRA Trial kick-off workshop in Addis Ababa by CANSO, AFRAA, IATA, ICAO, and Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), sponsored by AFREXIMBANK. Approvals secured for two trial flights.

• Trials for the free routing flights becomes a reality –Flights ET935 and KQ 508 operate safely on 2 November 2023 outside the existing routes directly from Addis Ababa to Abidjan and Nairobi to Accra, respectively.

Yearly projections Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways

459 Tonnes of fuel savings Prevention of the emission of 1,450 Tonnes of CO2

The launch of the three-month, six-month, and twelve-month trials with the extension of the number of city pairs and the increased number of participating airlines.

Saving USD 856,290 only on the retained trial-city pairs.

Next steps

The intensive trials will allow the LAB Task Group 3 to collect significant trial data. In October 2024, the LAB Task Group 3 will share the trial data with the Continental FRA Project Management Team in a joint workshop hosted by AFRAA in Nairobi.

The trial data analysis will showcase the FRA States and nonFRA States. Hence, the October 2024 workshop will set a roadmap towards implementing FRA in African Airspace.

2024

• Coordination for approvals of relevant ANSPs for more trial routes in year 2024 towards making the FRA a reality.

• Q1 2024, Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways operated 9 and 11 trial flights, respectively. From 24 to 30 April 2024, they performed 14 and 6 trial flights, respectively.

• Outcome of trials: Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways have avoided burning 1,258 KGS of fuel and prevented the emission of 3,975 KGS of CO2 per day.

Supported by:

Such a roadmap will be tabled before APIRG before the end of the year for an FRA implementation conclusion.

Stakeholders align on strategies for the sustainability of Africa’s aviation industry beyond enhancing intraAfrican connectivity

Addis Ababa, 12-14 May 2024: While the air transport data indicates that African aviation industry has seen traffic levels reaching or exceeding pre-COVID19 pandemic levels, concerted actions by air transport ecosystem stakeholders are critical for air transport business to thrive and contribute to the continent’s sustainable rapid development. It is important to envision and seize the opportunity that aviation presents beyond connectivity where African move easily to trade, open businesses and invest within the continent and elsewhere with the rest of the world driving economic development, fostering cultural exchange and advancing technology.

This year’s Convention was a unique opportunity to discuss strategies for the sustainability of Africa's aviation industry beyond the connectivity aspect. This was the impetus of the much-awaited Convention, held under the theme “Beyond connecting African aviation”.

The Convention was held at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 12-14 May 2024 under the patronage of the Government of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia and was graced by His Excellency Dr. Alemu Sime, Ethiopia Minister of Transport and Logistics – who was the Guest of Honour. The event is renowned for bringing together top aviation experts to engage in discourse, brainstorming, and dialogue with the aim of addressing the challenges faced by African airlines and unlocking the vast potential of air transport in the region.

In his welcome remarks, His Excellency Dr. Alemu Sime reiterated the Ethiopian government’s dedication to supporting the development of aviation on the continent. He stated: “We recognise that the movement of people and goods is crucial for achieving economic growth and promoting tourism among African nations. Therefore, we pledge to take every

necessary step to facilitate and encourage the progress of aviation in Africa.”

Speaking at the opening ceremony on the importance of concerted actions to change the future of the aviation industry in Africa, Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé Stated that only 10% of African citizens can afford Air transport, meaning there is considerable room for growth. In addition to the policies at the political level, he added that airlines must enhance cooperation through interline, code sharing, and partnerships and reduce their cost of operation to make air transport affordable for more Africans. “Our objective is to convene stakeholders to dialogue and deliberate on subject matters to pave the way for the air transport industry’s development and change the narrative of African Aviation”, he concluded.

Mr. Mesfin Tasew, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, in his speech during the opening ceremony emphasised the importance of collaboration to overcome the challenges facing African aviation so as to unleash the industry’s potential. “Stakeholders in African aviation and their partners play a critical role in promoting the significance of aviation. It is imperative to underscore the value of air transport as a substantial economic catalyst. Policymakers should focus on crafting policies that facilitate the growth of African aviation, encourage competition in aviation services, liberalise traffic rights (similar to North America, Europe, and others), streamline business operations by easing fund transfers, reducing taxation burdens, and making strategic investments in aviation infrastructure, including airports, maintenance facilities, and aviation training academies.” he stated.

Event highlights

A total of 25 African airlines attended the conference, with several represented at the CEO level. Overall, the event was attended by over 500 participants from 50 countries. Aviation ecosystem stakeholders at the Convention deliberated on the following key subjects that were lined up in the programme:

Africa market outlook and insights into airline risks

The session discussed how investors can perceive the opportunity and the risk of investing in African airlines, the need for African airlines to consolidate to operate effectively, the role of the AfCFTA and SAATM and how to de-risk the risk of investing and doing business in Africa at the macro-level and its impact on the aviation sector.

Industry Leader Keynote Interview – Focus on Air Cargo for Sustainability

Astral and Ethiopian Airlines Cargo shared extensive insights on

• Digital transformation for cargo;

• Pathways to NetZero: Initiatives through the cargo supply chain on environmental sustainability;

• Keeping abreast on the latest trends and regulations;

• African Perspectives on AI in shaping the future of Air Cargo.

Evolving airline network planning strategies

The presentation gave an overview of the underlying factors for network planning strategies, the shifts in the way airlines approach network planning in the near to medium term.

Intra-Africa route development and matchmaking for success between airlines and airports

The session discussed insights on:

• What route development strategies are airlines and airports utilising in 2024;

• Airports initiatives for intra-Africa route development and SAATM action plan;

• How SAATM is a critical success factor for airlines;

• What needs to be done to make effective implementation of SAATM a reality – a stocktake of the SAATM Joint Prioritized Action Plan.

Converging State and Stakeholders’ interests in achieving the decarbonisation of the aviation sector

The endorsement of the LTAG report during the 41st ICAO Assembly in November 2022 showed scientific and political consensus on the need to decarbonise the aviation sector, as well as on the overall challenges and way forward. However, the size of the endeavour and the uncertainties on the economic impacts, make necessary – even more than ever – the active collaboration of all parties and the lead of the Governments and the international players. This active role would help maximise investments, timely mature the necessary technological developments and efficiently roll-out of the decarbonisation initiatives. The presentation called to foster common initiatives among all parties, and it particularises the context for Governments and Aeroplane Operators. Only understanding their differentiated goals, challenges and opportunities will be possible to draw common initiatives to achieve the decarbonisation target of net-zero aviation by 2050.

The future of SAF is now: Africa’s Roadmap to move the needle on SAF production, what are the challenges and opportunities?

The session discussed Africa’s roadmap on SAF production, challenges and opportunities, SAF policy framework, Hydrogen in aviation update, Market developments and views on increasing SAF production and uptake.

ESG Spotlight on driving sustainable and inclusive growth –A case study

The presentation shared insights on the social aspects of ESG and the case study initiatives – roadmap to drive sustainable and inclusive growth.

Changing business models globally – the impact for Africa

Globally the traditional airline business models of Full Service Carrier and Low Cost Carrier are converging. The presentation showed implications of this trend for (African) airlines and how they can stay competitive.

Strategies for enhanced airline and airport operational efficiencies

Free Routing Airspace Reality in Africa: game-changer for Africa, what lies ahead?

Implementing the Free Routing Airspace in Africa for the first time in history is a game-changer to support a sustainable future for the African air transport industry. The session discussed what lies ahead on the roadmap and the elaborated the pilot airlines’ cost-savings, benefits and perspectives.

Industry Leader Keynote Interview with TAAG Angola Airlines

The session covered insights on:

• Milestones that have defined TAAG

• Landscape and shifts that have shaped the South African market, opportunities for regional/intercontinental markets

• Business dynamics – traffic, cost, skilled labour, cooperation and future prospects

• Airline collaboration and pan-regional partnerships

• Labour shortage/cost and capacity for training

• The future of TAAG Angola – what lies ahead?

• SAATM implementation – the opportunities/challenges and way forward

Technology and digitalisation – What are Africa’s priority areas for digital transformation for 2024 and beyond?

The air transport industry continues to embrace new technologies to enhance operational efficiency, enhance selling opportunities and revenue generation, enhance the passenger experience and reduce environmental impact. The session discussed:

• Innovation, digitalisation, including next-generation technology and how to think about AI.

• Who is leading the technology and digitalisation transformation?

• What are the areas of spending priority for digital transformation for 2024 and beyond?

• Digital transformation is a major priority for airlines and airports, is there parity between the drive for digital initiatives and the pace of change?

• What is the best approach for digitalisation – is the industry better off being led by third parties, developing technology on its own or taking partnership and hybrid approaches?

Masterclasses

There were master classes where cutting-edge ideas, industry best practices, new opportunities, and practical solutions were presented and discussed. The following masterclasses took take place:

i. Masterclass 1: A Spotlight of AFRAA Solutions

Navigating the Skies: Mastering African Aviation Market Intelligence

The African aviation industry serves as a pivotal driver of economic growth and connectivity, especially in the African continent. AFRAA master class, ‘Navigating the Skies: Mastering African Aviation Market Intelligence,’ was designed to provide aviation professionals with the tool and insights needed to thrive in the African aviation market. From passenger trends and route optimisation to understanding regional opportunities and competitive benchmarking, participants learnt how to extract actionable insights to drive strategic network planning and schedule growth to gain a competitive edge in the African market and beyond.

ii. Masterclass 2: Accelya

Empowering African airlines: Accelerating retailing with Accelya

Accelya elaborated on global trends impacting airline retailing and how African airlines can adopt a customer centric retailing approach. This session discussed how the speed at which NDC can now impact cost efficiencies and grow incremental revenues and what airlines need to address to transform into retailers.

iii. Masterclass 3: Amadeus

Transforming payments into a strategic enabler for airlines

The session discussed how to enhance the traveller experience through the entire payment journey, from pre-trip to the airport to post-trip, while giving Airlines flexibility and autonomy to customise offering. Amadeus works with Airlines across the globe to maximise your payment strategy through the nextgen payment platform, travel expertise, and deep technical integration with Airline IT infrastructure.

Focus on Youth Development in Aviation

CSR event Themed: ‘Building Pillars for NextGen African Aviators’

On the backdrop of 2 consecutive successful events for the development youth in aviation that was held by AFRAA with the support of Collins Aerospace, Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines for the past years at various locations, the 2024 edition of the initiative was held at the side-lines of the 12th Aviation Stakeholders Convention on 16 May 2024 at the Ethiopian University in Addis Ababa Ethiopia after the conclusion of the Convention.

The event was staged in collaboration with Ethiopian Airlines and Collins Aerospace, with the support of Rolls Royce, with the aim of empowering and motivating the next generation of aviators at the Ethiopian Aviation University. The event was sponsored by Ethiopian Airlines and Collins Aerospace. A total of 150 high school students from 20 schools in Ethiopia benefited from the initiative, which is aimed at supporting youth development in aviation.

i. Exhibition

Various aviation-related companies showcased their products and solutions through an exhibition at the Convention. The exhibitors include: ATNS, AEG Fuels, Aerospace Technical Services, AFRAA, Flight Safety Foundation, African Aerospace, Amadeus, Aviation Co-ordination Services (ACS), Boeing, Collins Aerospace, DPO Pay by Network, East African Aviation, EgyptAir, Ethiopian Airlines, Fokker Services Group, GE Aerospace, Ministry of Tourism Ethiopia, Nucore, SITA, The Aviation Services Association and Tomoca Coffee.

Sponsors: The Stakeholders Convention was proudly sponsored by: ATS Technic, ATNS, Boeing, Collins Aerospace, DPO Pay By Network, Ethiopian Airlines, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), GE Aerospace and Rolls Royce.

The much-awaited inaugural African Aviation Safety & Operations Summit staged in Addis Ababa – Ethiopia on 15 May

The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) and Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) jointly organised the inaugural African Aviation Safety & Operations Summit on 15 May 2024, in Addis-Ababa.

The one-day summit, themed ‘Championing Africa Aviation Safety Together,’ aimed to promote and improve safety standards within the African aviation sector. It brought together aviation stakeholders to discuss, strategise, and collaborate on shaping a safer future for African aviation. The summit addressed various aviation safety and operations facets, offering stakeholders a forum to discuss and exchange best practices.

The summit commenced with a snapshot of the region's aviation safety landscape and focused on the strides made, challenges addressed, and roadmap for sustaining and advancing safety in African skies. While the African aviation industry's safety performance has improved in recent years, more progress is needed to achieve global safety targets. Indeed, the absence of accidents does not necessarily mean the presence of safety.

Participants were presented with data on accidents and serious incidents highlighting high-risk categories in the region, prompting panelists to collectively explore and address underlying factors driving safety trends in African aviation.

The ICAO Global and Regional High-Risk Categories remain a significant concern for Africa, especially regarding runway excursions, with eight occurrences reported since the start of 2024.

The summit focused on safety culture and organisational leadership, examining the role of leadership in fostering a robust safety culture within aviation organisations. This included promoting open reporting systems, learning from incidents, training, and encouraging continuous improvement. Participants expressed the importance of a safety culture in ensuring safe operations in any organisation, emphasising the need to prioritise safety as a core value throughout an organisation, from leadership to frontline workers.

Throughout the one-day summit, participants exchanged numerous insights on the day’s topics, issues, and challenges. They discussed how brainstorming could improve safety and bolster resilience in addressing ICAO Global and Regional high-risk areas.

Participants called for more collaboration and cooperation among stakeholders to effectively implement safety requirements and best practices, including using technology and automation, which are crucial for ensuring safety, efficiency, and growth in the aviation industry.

Some other predominant challenges highlighted were in the following areas:

• Air Navigation Infrastructure Safety & Airports Infrastructure safety.

• Capacity/Capability of Safety Oversight Bodies.

• Lack of Effective Safety Data Collection/Information Sharing, Data-Driven Safety Management to be used only for Safety enhancement, and

• Investigation of all accidents and serious incidents not implemented.

The Inaugural Safety & Operations Summit ended up with a strong need for the establishment of priority actions:

• A strong commitment to safety is essential for creating a positive safety culture within the organisation. This commitment should be demonstrated at all levels of the organisation, from top-level management to individual employees.

• This involves actively participating in safety discussions, voicing concerns, and empowering colleagues to prioritise safety.

• Individuals can demonstrate their commitment to safety by using the appropriate personal protective equipment, following safety procedures, and maintaining a vigilant attitude towards hazards.

• Employers can further reinforce this commitment by establishing clear safety policies, providing regular training, and investing in safety-enhancing technology and resources.

• An assessment of the current situation is needed to effectively operationalise existing safety initiatives, like Runway Safety Teams.

• Analyse the contributing factors to the increasing runway excursions and set measurable goals and key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress on RE reduction.

• Utilise robust methods for identifying new and existing risks, such as reviewing processes and procedures, redesigning workflows, and implementing educational measures.

• Develop a framework for selecting and disseminating new safe practices, ensuring effective implementation and sustainability of improvement programmes.

• Establishing collaborative safety enhancement groups is a valuable strategy for safety improvement, as commercial competition must never prevent safety collaboration.

• These groups, bring together diverse stakeholders to collectively identify, prioritise, and monitor safety risks.

• This collaborative approach allows for the sharing of safety information and the development of targeted safety enhancement initiatives that are tailored to specific needs.

• As a matter of urgency, AFRAA is required to establish a Safety Group as part of its Technical, Operations, and Training Committee that will meet quarterly to exchange safety data and address identified trends.

• Training in safety matters, awareness creation, and workshops (a Minimum of one per quarter on various safety topics) are essential.

• Cultivate a robust foundation in management and leadership, focusing on the influence of cultural education. This involves reconciling differences between words and actions, treating blame as a systemic reaction, and comprehending the misconceptions surrounding safety management systems.

• Provide Fatigue Management training for Pilots, Maintenance Engineers, Traffic Controllers, Ground Handling Agents, and others.

• Provide training on recognising typical human reactions, such as the startle effect, to improve reaction recognition.

AFRAA Executive Committee meets in Addis Ababa – Ethiopia

The Executive Committee of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) held its 192nd meeting on 12 May 2024 at the Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Mesfin Tasew, the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group. Among various decisions, the Executive Committee discussed and made decisions on

1. Finance matters of the Association

2. Industry Affairs developments and initiatives by AFRAA including: airlines’ performance, advocacy efforts by the Secretariat on SAATM Implementation, blocked funds, high taxes and charges reduction, and the environment.

3. AFRAA Joint projects and committees’ developments including: Technical, Operations and Training, Fuel Procurement, Route Network and cargo, Distribution, Aeropolitical and the Free Routing Route Airspace (FRA) trials.

4. AFRAA’S CEOs retreat

New Members and Partners

The Executive Committee endorsed the approval of the following applications for the following new members and partners. AFRAA is pleased to welcome them to the Association fraternity:

New members

i. Z. Boskovic Air Charters Ltd – Associate Membership

ii. Berniq Airways – Full Membership

New Partner

i. Aviation Co-ordination Services (Pty) Ltd (ACS) –Associate Partnership

CEOs Consultative Session

The Executive Committee participated in the member airlines CEOs’ consultative session on Environmental Sustainability with Envisa that was part of the Agenda for the EXC meeting. The session covered the current context of the aviation ecosystem in Africa, global and local environmental sustainability challenges, the actions for collaboration between aviation and other sectors to achieve results, specific expectations of the aviation industry, and environmental-induced opportunities for Africa.

The meeting was attended by:

1. Mr. Mesfin Tasew Bekele

Ethiopian Airlines Meeting Chairman

2. Mr. Theunis Crous LAM Mozambique Chairperson

3. Mr. George Kamal

Kenya Airways (Representing CEO) 1st Vice Chair

4. Mr. Boikanyo Ntwaagae Air Botswana Member

5. Mr. Patrick Ndekana Air Tanzania (Representing CEO) Member

6. Mr. Esayas Woldemariam Hailu ASKY Airlines Member

7. Mrs. Salyy Ahmed EgyptAir Member

8. Mrs. Reem Oraby EgyptAir Member

9. Mrs. Fatima Zahra Jabri

Royal Air Maroc Member

10. Ms. Yvonne Makolo Rwandair Member

In-attendance

1. Gebeyehu Masrie

2. Ahadu Simachew

3. Dalmas Owino

4. Sergio Matos

AFRAA Secretariat

1. Mr. Abderahmane Berthé

2. Mr. Raphael Emilio Kuuchi

3. Mr. Gaoussou Konate

4. Ms. Maureen Kahonge

Ethiopian Airlines

Kenya Airways

Lam Mozambique

Secretary General

Director, Government, Legal & Industry Affairs

Director Technical & Operations

Snr. Manager Business Development & Communications

5. Mr. Dominic Simba Snr. Manager Corporate Finance & Administration

6. Mr. Denis Kimani

Manager, Government, Legal & Industry Affairs

CEOs/COOs/Presidents | CIOs | General Managers

Vice Presidents | Technical/Maintenance Directors Flight

Operations Directors | Chief Pilots | Chief Flight Attendants

Procurement/Contract Officers Passenger Service

Directors | Marketing Offices | Cargo Directors

Certification Authorisation Regulators Associations

Secretary Generals | Business Development Managers

Airline Industrial Partners

To advertise please contact Rukhsana Haq, email: rukhsana@camerapix.co.ke, Cell: +254 739 265 511 or Maureen Kahonge, email: mkahonge@afraa.org, Cell +254 725 500470 www.camerapixmagazines.net or www.afraa.org

AFRAA Technical, Operations, and Training Committee meets in Addis Ababa – Ethiopia

The AFRAA Technical Operations and Training Committee (TOTC) held its sixth meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Sunday, 12 May, at Skylight Hotel, Addis Ababa-Republic of Ethiopia (On the sidelines of the 12th AFRAA Aviation Stakeholders’ Convention).

The Committee has its membership spread across all the AFRAA member airlines. Occasionally AFRAA invites specific aviation industry partners to participate or present on critical topics during the Committee meetings. The key areas of focus for this committee include, among other areas, cooperation with members and partners on cost reduction initiatives, safety, quality, security, training, regional programmes relating to air navigation services, MRO Cooperation, and other revenue enhancement projects. The TOTC holds its May and October every year), meeting twice yearly, in May and October.

Member airlines’ representatives from the Engineering and Maintenance, Fleet Management, flight and ground operations, safety, quality, security, and training departments get nominated by their respective airlines to sit on this committee to protect and express the interests of their members.

The 6th TOTC had insightful discussions on:

• AFRAA initiatives (air navigation services cost reduction, aircraft capacity sharing, Line Maintenance pooling; and Fuel Committee developments)

• Africa regional activities;

i. Status of Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) implementation in AFI, ii. 26th AFI Planning and Implementation Regional Group (APIRG) and 9th AfricaIndian Ocean Regional Aviation Safety Group (RASG-AFI) outcomes,

iii. Abuja safety Targets 2024 workshop,

iv. AFRAA Safety activities and announcement of the Inaugural African Aviation Safety & Operations Summit.

• Status of the Free Routing Airspace trials implementation;

• AFRAA Training activities (Training courses conducted in 2023, Current training programme, and AATF project).

Two special presentations were made during this meeting as below:

• IOSA, ISSA, and ISAGO – IOSA “new risk-based approach” delivered by Ms. Joan Otero, Kenya Airways;

• Introduction and review of potential cooperation, delivered by Mr. Thomas Konietzko, Airport Services Association (ASA).

AFRAA is committed to equip the African aviators with the knowledge and the expertise that’s sustain the continuous growth of the African aviation. In this regard, highly qualified instructors conduct AFRAA courses. We believe that well-trained people are the most important asset for aviation organisations to ensure continuous development while adapting to the ever changing operating environment.

Scheduled courses for 2024

Please contact Dicie Okaya (training@afraa.org) on how to register for the courses. Visit the AFRAA Website for more information: https://www.afraa.org/afraa-training-program/

AFRAA Distribution Committee meets in Addis Ababa – Ethiopia

AFRAA Distribution Committee meeting took place on 12 April 2024, back-toback with the 12th Aviation Stakeholders Convention from 12-14 May 2024, which was hosted by Ethiopian Airlines. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Getaneh Desta WoldemichaelDirector Commercial of Royal Eswatini National Airways Corporation t/a Eswatini Air and Chairman of the Committee.

The Committee meeting apprised members and discussed the status updates on distribution initiatives by AFRAA. The meeting further offered expert presentations on redefinition of retail distribution and innovative and tactical digital payments solutions in Africa.

i. Innovative and Tactical Digital Payments solutions in Africa –Presentation by Ipay – Elipa Presentation covered reliable payment processing services that support instant payment processing using mobile money, mobile banking, debit and credit cards and e-wallet. Potential collaboration opportunities with AFRAA and AFRAA member airlines.

ii. Redefining Retail distributionPresentation by Amadeus

With a focus on traveller’s needs, NDC allows Airlines to easily build and tailor their offers using the latest merchandising techniques. Synergizing IT and distribution with NDC, Airlines can distribute innovative and more targeted content across the entire travel supply chain. The session will elaborate how to innovate towards modern retailing and enhanced shopping experience.

iii. The path to modern retailing, how African airlines can take advantage of established trends and make big strides towards customer centricityPresentation by Accelya

Accelya narrated the global trends impacting airline retailing and how African airlines can adopt a customer centric retailing approach. This session discussed about the speed at which NDC can now impact cost efficiencies and grow incremental revenues and what airlines need to address to transform into retailers.

Member airlines had the opportunity to deliberate on various industry developments on distribution aimed at helping airlines create more efficient, reliable and scalable travel opportunities for the future.

In line with the Association’s strategic focus, AFRAA launched the Distribution Committee in 2019 among other projects for value addition to members. The Distribution Committee provides a forum to member airlines to explore Africaspecific solutions, exchange knowledge and ideas on airline distribution, payments and settlement with the view to adopting and implementing cost-effective common solutions that will address some of the distribution and settlement challenges faced in Africa. The committee will also explore viable and cost effective initiatives for implementation by the Secretariat to meet its members’ distribution needs.

Boeing – DDD:

160 young people to participate in employability in Aviation programme in Kenya

Nairobi, Kenya, 26 April 2024 – Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Digital Divide Data (DDD) have launched an aviation-focused employability programme for Kenyan youth. This initiative serves as a stepping stone for their future careers in aviation.

Kuljit Ghata-Aura, president of Boeing Middle East, Türkiye, Africa, and Central Asia, said: “The African aviation industry is booming. We forecast that Africa will need over 1,000 new aircraft and 69,000 aviation professionals to support that growth over the next 20 years. It is imperative we act now to prepare and inspire the future generation of aviation professionals in Africa. We are very proud to launch this impactful programme with our partners, DDD, to empower African youth to kickstart fulfilling careers in our industry”.

The Employability in Aviation programme in Kenya marks the first aviation-focused training programme by DDD and Boeing and builds on their long-term partnership. Boeing’s collaboration with DDD spans 16 years, during which they have provided job skills training to 1,000 young people in Kenya.

Sopheap Im, chief people officer at Digital Divide Data, said: “I am excited about the launch of the Employability in Aviation programme in Kenya. This initiative is a testament to our commitment to empowering the Kenyan youth by equipping them with the necessary skills and opportunities to succeed. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this programme will have on the lives of these young people and the Kenyan aviation industry”.

The Employability in Aviation programme launched in March 2024, and will continue through December. The programme consists of four cohorts. The first two cohorts completed their training in late April. This year, the programme will reach 160 high school graduates aged 18-24 from various regions of Kenya. 52% of participants are women, and more than 5% represent individuals with special needs.

Each cohort is undergoing intensive training in employability skills for two months. This includes customer service in the aviation industry, basic computer skills and knowledge of Google Suite and Microsoft Office, communication in the workplace, as well as general awareness of how artificial intelligence and machine learning are applied in aviation.

Graduates who excel will have an opportunity to secure internships or entry-level roles with aviation companies in Kenya or DDD as entry-level associates. DDD associates can obtain a certificate in the aviation field through the scholarship programme, paving the way to start a career in this dynamic sector. Kenya Airways is exploring opportunities to tailor training modules and provide internships or entry-level roles for the most successful graduates, enhancing the programme’s impact and relevance.

Allan Kilavuka, Managing Director and CEO of Kenya Airways, said: “We are dedicated to advancing Africa’s air transport capacity and capabilities. Through collaboration with Boeing and DDD, we’re tackling economic disparities by empowering young people to pursue careers in aviation.”

AFRAA Diary

Ms. Maureen Kahonge, Senior Manager of Business Development and Communications at the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), said: “Aviation sustainability in Africa will largely depend on a holistic approach to actions undertaken by all relevant stakeholders. AFRAA commends Boeing and Digital Divide Data (DDD) for this programme and other initiatives aimed at supporting the next generation of aviation professionals in Africa. The development of skilled aviation workforce in Africa is one of the focus areas for AFRAA. We work closely with industry partners on initiatives to prepare the youth for aviation careers. We believe that the continent can train the youth and help them join the aviation industry which is key to driving Africa’s economic development.”

About Boeing

As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures, and services commercial airplanes, defence products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. The company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability, and community impact. Boeing’s diverse team is committed to innovating for the future,

leading with sustainability, and cultivating a culture based on the company’s core values of safety, quality, and integrity. Boeing’s history in Africa dates back 75 years. Boeing planes have formed the backbone of the continent’s commercial fleet.

More information at www.boeing.com

About Digital Divide Data (DDD):

Digital Divide Data (DDD) is a New York-based non-profit organisation founded in 2001 with the mission of using technology and digital skills to bridge the gap between underserved populations and employment opportunities that lead to a better future. DDD delivers training data services and machine learning data operations support services to Fortune 500 companies and the world’s leading innovators. Digital Divide Data transforms lives around the world by creating opportunities for education, training, and employment. DDD is on a mission to provide underserved youth with a path toward successful careers and a higher quality of life, while providing first-class tech services to organisations across the globe. Learn more about DDD at www.digitaldividedata.com

AFRAA SG intervention at the African Aviation MRO AFRICA on 23 April 2024 –Addis

Ababa, Ethiopia

In his intervention at the African aviation MRO AFRICA on 23 April 2024 – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé, AFRAA Secretary General, called upon African Airlines, MROs, and AATOs (African Aviation Training Organisations) to cooperate better and be ready to sustain the future growth of the African Air Transport market.

He highlighted that the number of aircraft operated on the African continent in the next 10 years is estimated to reach 1,429 units as the result of a growth rate of 2.3% per year from 2024 to 2034.

As such, to operate more aircrafts, it will be critical to facilitate the access to aircraft financing for airlines and to develop MRO capacities across the continent.

“The two critical challenges for MRO activities growth to be addressed are: The Supply Chain challenge and, the Labour shortage challenge,” Mr. Berthé stated.

“To operate more aircraft, we need to develop human resources,” he concluded. According to Boeing global market forecast, the needs for skills in Africa from 2023 to 2042 are 22,000 engineers, 21,000 pilots, and 26,000 cabin crews.

SAATM challenges and learnings from the EU: AFRAA Secretary General Intervention at the Connecting Europe Days

AFRAA Secretary General – Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé, intervened in a panel session during the Connecting Europe Days on the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) on what lessons learnt from the air transport liberalisation in the EU can be useful for SAATM.

On the challenges impeding the implementation of SAATM, Mr. Berthé stated: “The air transport market in Africa is relatively small, we have seen some protectionism attitudes aiming to protect national carriers. Of course, this is a wrong approach because by nature traffic rights are reciprocal. it is therefore critical to increase the market size and facilitate its access.” To achieve this, he highlighted the following need to be addressed:

1. Affordability of air transport for African citizens: reduce cost of operations and taxes and charges;

2. African economy growth: GDP per capita (only 15% of global GDP per capita);

3. Trade and tourism development: Intra-Africa trade is below 20% compared to more than 50% in other regions. Intra-Africa tourism is very small. In Africa when we talk about tourism, we are looking to tourism from non-African regions;

4. Facilitation of air travel through visa openness is also critical. 50% of African citizens need a visa to travel within Africa;

5. Airlines’ cooperation: commercial agreements and partnerships are essential to improve connectivity. AFRAA Route Network and Cargo Coordination is aimed at creating a forum for airlines to cooperate. Another success factor is airline consolidation.

Over the past 18 years, the African continent has had the lowest level of market consolidation compared to the other regions in the globe. The engagement of States, airlines and all the relevant stakeholders is necessary to effectively achieve the required outcomes on airline consolidation in Africa.

This session looked into SAATM as a key to open the door for aviation to play a major role in connecting Africa, promoting its social, economic and political integration and boosting intra-Africa trade and tourism as a result.

The session gave insights into the state-of-play of the SAATM by AUC and AFCAC, and the challenges seen by other key African aviation stakeholders like AFRAA. EASA presented some key lessons learnt from the air transport liberalisation in the EU.

The event was organised by the European Commission together with the Belgian Presidency of the Council in Brussels from 2-5 April 2024.

AFRAA SG Meets ASKY CEO and stakeholders in Togo, to advance SAATM

AFRAA Secretary General, Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé, paid a courtesy visit to ASKY Airlines CEO – Mr. Esayas Woldemariam Hailu in Lome – Togo. The discussion covered developments that have increased traction of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) implementation progress, notably the just-concluded SAATM Capacity building workshop for airlines that was organised by AFRAA in collaboration with AFCAC in Nairobi from 18-20 March 2024 and the ongoing recruitment process in Lomé of the YD/SAATM Administrative Council which was chaired by Mr. Berthé.

The Administrative Council shall be an independent body composed of 5 members from 5 African regions who shall be Legal experts. They will adopt all decisions necessary for the operation of the Dispute Settlement Mechanism and perform the operational tasks assigned to it by the Regulation. The Administrative Council shall be supported by a Secretariat that shall perform the function of Registrar as well as enforce appropriate rules and administrative procedures.

The meeting further discussed the state of the industry, developments at ASKY Airlines and forthcoming industry events including, the 12th Aviation Stakeholders Convention and the Inaugural African Aviation Safety & Operations Summit taking place from 12-15 May 2024 hosted by Ethiopian Airlines under the high patronage of the Government of Ethiopia at the Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Mr. Berthé was accompanied by Mr. Raphael Kuuchi – AFRAA Consulting Director Government, Legal & Industry Affairs.

Implementing cost-effective solution to reduce fuel costs –AFRAA Fuel Purchase Committee 2024 tender Programme on course

AFRAA Fuel Committee members converged at the AFRAA headquarters in Nairobi in March 2024 for the first round negotiation meetings for the year 2024/25 programme tender process.

Established in 2012, the AFRAA Fuel Project is the vehicle which members use to coordinate, facilitate and manage the joint purchase of fuel enabling participating airlines to reduce cost of fuel and favourable terms achieved through economies of scale. Currently there are 14 participating member airlines including:

1. Air Botswana

2. Air Burkina

3. ASKY Airlines

4. Astral Aviation

5. Camair-Co

6. Ethiopian Airlines

7. Express Air Cargo

8. Kenya Airways

9. LAM-Mozambique

10. PrecisionAir

11. RwandAir

12. South African Airways

13. TAAG-Angola Airlines

14. Uganda Airlines

The fuel programme, which runs on an annual basis, has achieved significant cost savings to the participating airlines since its establishment.

Safety first, Connectivity and Route Development, Sustainability of African airlines – AFRAA key priorities

Abdérahmane Berthé – Secretary General – AFRAA intervention at the Embraer Airline Business Seminar 2024

Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé – Secretary General – AFRAA articulated AFRAA insights in a panel discussion at the Embraer Airline Business Seminar 2024 in Cape Town – South Africa. The Seminar was held under the theme: “Accelerating Africa’s Opportunities”

Themed, “Pan-African Aviation Leadership – Beyond Borders”, the panel covered:

1. The role of various business model airlines in shaping intraconnectivity across Africa;

2. Challenges & opportunities African airlines need to navigate through;

3. Partnerships and collaborations intra-regionally and beyond Africa’s borders.

On measures to address the market challenges: cost environment, blocked funds, market access, Mr. Berthé highlighted the 3 main priorities of AFRAA for 2024 include:

• Safety first in African airlines’ operations

• Connectivity and Route Development

• Sustainability of African airlines

On airline collaboration and Consolidation in Africa which has been a trend in other continents, aimed at creating more resilient and competitive carriers, Mr. Berthé highlighted that from comparative studies that over the past 15 years, the African continent has had the lowest level of market consolidation compared to the other regions in the globe. He added that a crucial element in the success of the African airlines is consolidation and collaboration.

Some of the barriers to airline consolidation highlighted in Africa include:

• Cases of failure of Legacy merger attempts worldwide

• Aero political barriers

• Huge cross-border capital investment

• Potential need for big cost cuts and asset reallocation

• Cultural barriers

“At AFRAA, we think that the ultimate constitution of an African Airlines Alliance can benefit to airlines and passengers. Because of the current lack of cooperation amongst African airlines despite AFRAA efforts, we think that it is better to go step by step. The AFRAA Route Network and Cargo Committee addresses this. The Committee is aimed at reviewing options for network coordination and schedule harmonisation to address some of the challenges of dwindling traffic, network connectivity and schedule alignment. The Committee facilitates easier market access at minimal costs, thus generating incremental revenue, stimulating traffic growth and increasing aircraft utilisation and flights connectivity for participating airlines.” he stated.

AFRAA

The SAATM Capacity Building Workshop for airlines staged in Nairobi

AFRAA in collaboration in AFCAC and AUC held a SAATM Capacity Building Workshop for airlines in Nairobi from 18-20 March 2024. The Workshop was officially opened by the African Union Commission’s Ag Head of Transport and Mobility – Mr. Eric Ntagengerwa.

In his intervention, AFRAA’s Secretary General, Mr. Berthé thanked the AUC, the AFCAC and the UN-ECA for their efforts towards the effective enforcement of SAATM through:

• The installation of the Dispute Settlement Mechanism (DSM) secretariat in Dakar during the last quarter of 2023;

• The ongoing process of appointment of the members of the DSM Administrative Council.

“It is critical to ensure that the decisions of the future Administrative Council will be binding to all parties. Otherwise, we will still depend on the goodwill of states to implement SAATM.” Mr. Berthé highlighted.

He urged stakeholders to coordinate efforts to make air travel affordable for African citizens. This is the reason for the African Aviation Industry Group (AAIG) to organise the Air Transport sustainability LAB that was hosted in Nairobi by AFRAA in June 2022. “We need to continue addressing the main challenges

which our industry is facing. Together we will be stronger.” He added.

The capacity building Workshop, which is mainly on SAATM Regulatory Instruments, will be used to create awareness, and present all the regulatory text (Powers, Functions and Operations) of the Executing Agency, Consumer Protection Regulations, the Competition Regulations, the Dispute Settlement Mechanism and the revised African Civil Aviation Policy (AFCAP).

The aim was to empower operators on their rights, obligations and opportunities in a SAATM environment. The workshop also presented the Key Performance Indicators for the implementation of SAATM and encourage eligible airlines to work together to expand their intra-Africa operations.

The 3-days Workshop was held at the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority’s (KCAA’s), East African School of Aviation.

Workshop outcomes

1. Enhanced understanding and appreciation by the airline industry on SAATM Regulatory Instruments;

2. Enhanced understanding and appreciation by the airline industry on the Key Performance Indicators for the implementation of SAATM;

3. Shared experience by Regional Competition Authorities and Consumer Protection Associations on the Regulatory Texts of the YD/SAATM;

4. Understanding of the progress and challenges in the implementation of the YD and the approved Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for tracking the implementation of the YD and SAATM;

5. Enhanced understanding and appreciation by airline industry on the opportunities and overall benefits associated with the liberalisation of the African air transport through the YD/SAATM;

6. Promotion/Advocacy on SAATM;

7. Enhanced appreciation among Stakeholders on the need for collaboration on sustainable development of air transport in Africa through full implementation of the YD and SAATM; and

8. Enhanced awareness on the need and advantages of a harmonised YD regulatory texts environment.

Participants

• African airline CEOs, Directors, Senior Airline executives and Managers responsible for air transport regulation, industry affairs, legal, business development, marketing, network planning and operations, etc.;

• Representatives of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs);

• Regional Competition Authorities and Regional Consumer Protection Associations; and

• Representatives from key partner Institutions (AUC, ICAO, IATA, AASA, AFCFTA Secretariat).

AFRAA at the Airports Council International – ACI Africa Conference Exhibition

AFRAA and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) teams held a meeting on 29 February at the AFREXIMBANK headquarters in Cairo, Egypt. The purpose of the meeting was to review the implementation status of AFREXIMBANK-funded projects at AFRAA and discuss plans for 2024.

Current projects include:

• The Free Routing Airspace in Africa;

• The IOSA/ISSA Assistance Service Project aimed at enhancing safety for African airlines.

AFRAA exhibited at the Airports Council International – ACI Africa Conference – Alamera Hall, Air Force House in Cairo, Egypt.

The Exhibition was opened on 25 February by Mr. Mohamed Saied Mahrous – Chairman, Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation (EHCAAN).

AFRAA Diary

AFRAA SG intervention at ACI Africa Regional Conference in Cairo, Egypt, 26 February 2024

Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé, Secretary General of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) participated in a panel session at the 2024 ACI AFRICA Regional conference in Cairo, Egypt on 26 February on the theme: ‘Unlocking the Potential of Aviation in Africa’.

Aviation is a core enabler of economic growth and development in Africa, connecting countries, people and goods with enhanced air connectivity, facilitating tourism and trade, and contributing to the social wellbeing and education of the communities. The panel session will examine why the aviation sector in Africa is yet to reap these benefits, being hampered by several systemic factors, including geopolitical and internal political situations, protectionism, and other restrictive policies and practices.

Mr. Berthé made emphasis on addressing the following key issues to unlock the potential of Aviation in Africa:

• Low income and low purchasing power of African citizens;

• High cost of operations / High Fares / Affordability;

• Fuel: globally, 25% average operating costs; Africa 30-40%;

• Taxes, charges and fees: higher compared to other regions;

• Market access restrictions many African states still deny traffic rights to African airlines, affecting intra-Africa connectivity;

• Ease of visa restrictions;

• – 50% of travellers need a visa before travelling;

• Release of blocked funds impacting airlines’ performance.

In his intervention, Mr. Berthé further elaborated the status updates on the roadmap implementation of the first African aviation industry laboratory for the sustainability of air transport in Africa that was hosted by AFRAA in 2022.

Aviation industry stakeholders who developed the roadmap for the sustainability of the African air transport industry committed to coordinate efforts to:

1. Increase the number of fifth freedom city pairs in Africa to enhance intra-African connectivity;

2. Develop guidelines and economic regulatory framework for rationalisation of taxes, charges, and fees;

3. Achieve competitive and affordable air travel to boost trade and tourism in Africa;

4. Reduce the taxes on fuel and abolish custom duties on spare parts and aircraft in line with the relevant provisions of the ICAO Convention;

5. Streamline and automate the flight permits acquisition processes across Civil Aviation Authorities (CAAs);

6. Boost flight operation efficiency in African airspace to attain productivity gains for airlines and air navigation service providers.

Traction has been made with tangible outcomes reported on the implementation of the Free Routing Airspace in Africa ongoing trials and the increase of 5th freedom city-pars within Africa from 14.5% to 19% as at 2023.

The panel comprised of the following panelists and was moderated by Mr. Emanuel Chaves, President, ACI Africa.

1. Abdérahmane Berthé, Secretary General, African Airlines Association (AFRAA);

2. Olivier Baric, Aviation Consultant;

3. Mohamed Fala, President of El-Nakhil Tours Company;

4. Jihad Boueri, Vice President, Transformation, SITA, Middle East & Africa;

5. Mohamed Elsherbeiny, General Manager, International Offices Department – Egyptian Tourism Authority.

AFRAA Secretary General, Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé, meets with the Minister of Civil Aviation of Equatorial Guinea

Mr. Berthé met with Hon. Norberto Bartolomé Monsuy, on 15 February 2024, on the sidelines of the Future of Air Transportation Summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the airline industry in Central Africa and matters on air transport development at large.

AFRAA Secretary General, Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé, met with the Minister of Civil Aviation of Equatorial Guinea, Hon. Norberto Bartolomé Monsuy, on 15 February 2024, on the sidelines of the Future of Air Transportation Summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the airline industry in Central Africa and matters on air transport development at large.

AFRAA Signs MoU with TMAM for coordination of support for enhanced airline and airport operations in Africa

16 February 2024, Malabo – Equatorial Guinea: Airlines and airports have an interdependent relationship and a coordinated interaction is key for the air transport industry to thrive. In line with this and with the objective to develop coordinated synergies that will align efforts to enhance airport and airline operations in Africa, the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Terminals Malabo Airport Management (TMAM).

The MoU was signed by Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé – AFRAA

Secretary General and Mr. Ahmed Al Hadabi – Group CEO of

Terminals Group at sidelines of the Future of Air Transportation Summit in Malabo – Equatorial Guinea. Under the framework of the MoU, AFRAA and TMAM will focus on the following areas of collaboration:

1. Efforts to promotion of travel and tourism within Africa;

2. Data sharing and analytics;

3. Initiatives to enhance operational efficiencies, customer service, and strategic planning;

4. Environmental sustainability;

5. Airport Infrastructure Development;

6. Training and capacity building;

7. Innovation and Technology;

8. Emergency Response and Crisis Management;

9. Special handling services;

10. Enhancement of customer service for passengers;

11. Advocacy and policy engagement.

An annual workplan shall be developed to set and track progress of activities between AFRAA and TMAM.

AFRAA highlight actions on SAATM progress at the 7th meeting of the JPAP

With the overall objective to boost intra-Africa traffic and connectivity to accelerate the implementation of SAATM, AFRAA joined key industry stakeholders at the 7th meeting of the Joint Prioritized Action Plan (JPAP) for operationalisation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). The meeting, which was organised by AFCAC, took place in Nairobi – Kenya on 9 February 2024. AFRAA shared highlight actions on SAATM progress and the 2024 plan of activities at the meeting on:

• Capacity building

• Safety

• Free Routing Airspace

• Advocacy and lobbying

• Roadmap action of the laboratory on sustainability of air transport industry

Overall, SAATM represents a strategic initiative aimed at transforming the aviation landscape in Africa, fostering greater regional integration, and unlocking the economic potential associated with improved air connectivity.

After 5 years of official launching SAATM, there is still very little commitment by some of the 38 signatory states to for the full liberalisation of aviation market on the continent including several other barriers that prevent the successful implementation of SAATM on the continent, such as lack of prioritisation of aviation by Governments, policy of protectionism, high fees and taxes, failure to facilitate/opening visas between countries, amongst several others. The purpose of the JPAP is for Africa’s aviation industry stakeholders to identify and align the activities to support SAATM, namely:

• Ensuring members of the SAATM fully implement the immediate measures to effectively operationalise the Single African Air Transport Market as early as possible;

• Elaborating and executing an effective advocacy and communication strategy for more states to join the SAATM;

• Resource mobilisation and strengthening of the capacity of the African Civil Aviation Commission to effectively perform its functions as the Executing Agency of the Yamoussoukro Decision;

• Seeking technical assistance for Member States to improve the level of aviation safety and security to meet the minimum requirements of ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and attain the global average of effective implementation level; and

• Ensuring African airlines enhance their cooperation in the operation of the Single African Air Transport Market. Since the creation of JPAP in 2018, annual meetings are held to coordinate actions and align on tangible results that have been achieved. The 7th JPAP meeting achieved the following objectives:

1. Obtained the progress report of implementation of the 2023 SAATM Prioritized Joint Action Plan;

2. Reinforced commitment of stakeholders in supporting the development and sustainability of African Civil Aviation industry;

3. Updated 2024 SAATM Prioritized Joint Action Plan that is aligned with the Recommendations of the SAATM-PIP Airshows and the 2024 Work plan; and

4. Updated the adopted mechanism for monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the Joint Prioritized Action Plan; Stakeholders present at the meeting included:

• Representative of the SAATM Champion

• Representative of the Chairperson of the SAATM Ministerial Working Group

• African Union Commission (AUC)

• African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC)

• Regional Economic Communities (RECs)

• African Airlines Association (AFRAA)

• United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)

• African Development Bank (AfDB)

• ICAO – HQ, WACAF, ESAF and MID Regional Offices and EURNAT

• International Air Transport Association (IATA)

• Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA)

• European Union/EASA

• Aircraft Manufacturers (Boeing)

• Air Navigation Services Providers

• Regional Safety Oversight Organizations (RSOOs) and Regional Aircraft Accident Incident Investigation Organizations (RAIOs).

AFRAA meets with Mr. Mohamed Daghar, the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Roads & Transport of Kenya

AFRAA accompanied by the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO Kenya), met with Mr. Mohamed Daghar, the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Roads & Transport of Kenya, to discuss areas of close engagement for the development of the air transport sector in Kenya.

AFRAA was represented by Ms. Maureen Kahonge, Senior Manager of Business Development & Communications, and Ms. Raffaella Irie, Senior Manager of Data, Statistics & Training. Present from KAAO was the CEO, Eng. Liz Aluvanze, and Chairman, Mr. Mbuvi Ngunze.

AFRAA Diary

Industry updates by AFRAA

January 2024

Somalia: Somalia has taken back control of its airspace management from Nairobi where it was airspace control was reassigned in 2018, reflecting its commitment to sovereignty and self-governance. The transition of Somalia’s airspace from Class G to Class A marks a significant milestone in the country’s aviation sector. The class upgrade means Somalia will now provide Air Traffic Control Services, a crucial step in enhancing safety and operational efficiency.

Zambia has adopted the use of electronic cargo manifests, a forward-looking approach aimed at modernising cargo processing and aligning with international trade standards. The move will expedite cargo handling processes, foster smoother operations, and support the objectives of the trade facilitation agreements.

A similar digitisation move in Cameroon has seen the innovative use of a ‘Customs Cmr’ or ‘Douane Cmr’ mobile app in air passenger processing. This will streamline customs procedures and embraces digital transformation in passenger handling. The result will be efficiency and convenience for both passengers and customs authorities.

Tunisia increased tourism tax for economy and business class travellers to enhance revenue generation for the tourism sector. The increase which was without consultation with industry stakeholders could negatively affect the anticipated tourist arrivals in the country.

On a positive note, Tunisia has deposited its instruments of ratification of the Montreal Protocol 2014 (MP14) with the effective date of January 2024. Tunisia has become the 47th party to MP14 which addresses jurisdictional gaps that allow unruly and disruptive passengers to avoid prosecution AFRAA encourages all African states to ratify this protocol as a deterrent to unruly behaviour on flights and at airports.

In January 2024 a meeting was held in Cologne to address challenges related to GPS spoofing. The event emphasised the importance of pilot training highlighted ongoing commitment of the global aviation community to addressing emerging threats posed by spoofing. Balancing the adoption of newer technologies with considerations for evolving security challenges remains a critical aspect of ensuring the resilience and sustainability of the aviation sector. Collaboration and information-sharing are essential to navigating the complexities of the current aviation landscape.

March 2024

ATNS in South Africa implemented the revised Air Traffic Service Charges, effective 1 May 2024. These charges were reviewed and approved by the regulator.

A proposed $20 per passenger fee at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in Accra, Ghana to cover airport maintenance works and baggage belt repairs, without following due process attracted condemnation by operators and the industry. While there is a need for investment in infrastructure to meet growing demand, AFRAA advocates strict adherence by all service providers to the stipulated ICAO principles contained in DOC9082. Following intervention by the parliament of Ghana, levying of the proposed fee has been suspended.

Airplanes Africa Limited’s (AAL) has achieved a commendable feat by assembling the first Skyleader 600 aircraft in Tanzania. This could mark the beginning of Africa’s venture into aircraft assembly and components manufacture.

Uganda has reaffirmed its commitment to signing the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) solemn commitment. If done, this will bring to 39 the African State that have committed to opening up their markets. Similarly, internal discussions are ongoing in Tanzania on their commitment to SAATM. If the two countries join, EAC will boast a big domestic market for air travel. Open skies will boost intra-African connectivity, drive down airfares, and stimulate air traffic and revenue growth across the continent as well as create jobs.

Sierra Leone CAA’s Consumer Protection Unit has reached out to her ECOWAS partners in the Consumer Protection industry to harmonies the positions to safeguard the sub-region consumer interest in civil aviation. Striking a balance between protecting passenger rights and ensuring sustainable air services is crucial for a healthy aviation industry.

Ecuador has made positive strides with a new Tourism Law which eliminates currency repatriation tax and to reduce the 5% jet-fuel tax by 1% annually over the next 5 years. The African Continent can emulate this gradual tax reduction model of Ecuador to reduce some of the burdensome taxes that are hampering aviation development on the continent.

ICAO and the Aviation Working Group (AWG) are collaborating to enhance cross-border aircraft transferability by promoting compliance with the Cape Town Convention. This will improve efficiency and safety in the aircraft leasing and financing sector and AFRAA commends the 2 organisations for the initiative.