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IATA decries insufficient intra-connectivity in Africa

IATA decries insufficient intra-connectivity in Africa

The International Air Transport Association, IATA, has tasked African governments to ensure more air connectivity within the continent.

The international body at a one-day summit held in Lagos over the weekend observed that the inability of sufficient intraconnectivity within the continent had made flights more expensive and uncomfortable to passengers.

Commenting on the issue, the Regional Head, Member and External Relations, Africa and Middle East, IATA, Adefunke Adeyemi decried that in spite of the adoption of the Yamoussoukro Decision in 1999, the signatories had not fully implemented it.

Adeyemi noted that this had made it impossible for aviation to turn around the economy of the continent, but observed that with the opening of the sky for carriers in the continent, economic activities would receive a boost.

He said, “It is time for Africa nations to wake-up and open their air to each other for economic growth and development that is not fully tapped into, vibrant aviation sector that can compete with continents with developed aviation industry.

“Where African nations have liberalised their air markets, either within Africa or with the rest of the world, there have been substantial positive benefits.”

Adeyemi noted that the agreement of a more liberal air market between South Africa and Kenya in the early 2000s led to 69 per cent rise in passenger traffic while allowing the operation of a low cost carrier service between South Africa and Zambia (Johannesburg- Lusaka) resulted in a 38 per cent reduction in discount fares and 38 per cent increase in passenger traffic.

He added that Ethiopia’s pursuit of more liberal bilateral had contributed to Ethiopian Airlines becoming one of the largest and most profitable airlines in Africa.

He emphasized that research has found that on intra-African routes with more liberal bilaterals, Ethiopians benefit from 10 to 21 per cent lower fares and 35-38 per cent higher frequencies when compared to restricted intra-Africa routes.

“The 2006 Morocco-EU open skies agreement led to 160% rise in traffic and the number of routes operating between points in the EU and points in Morocco increasing from 83 in 2005 to 309 in 2013,” he added.

www.iata.org

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