Representatives of regional governments have warned that fragmented air transport markets are driving up business costs and undercutting the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Speaking ahead of the Africa Mindset Reset Forum in Kigali, delegates said that while much of the legal framework to liberalize regional air travel already exists, implementation, financing, and political will remain major obstacles.
The discussions centered on advancing the Yamoussoukro Decision, a landmark treaty designed to open African skies by expanding traffic rights. “Open skies cannot be achieved through policy commitments alone,” said Lufeyo Banda, a representative from the African Development Bank. “Financing, fleet modernization, stronger institutions, and improved connectivity must all be addressed together.”
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Writing for Africa Renewal, Franck Kuwonu examines the multiple challenges facing African airlines as they seek to take advantage of the growth in air travel and expand their coverage of the continent while still making a profit.
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