Three countries have signed the Single African Air Transport Market committing to end barriers to air transport.
However, 14 more countries including Kenya are yet to sign the Single African Air Transport Market agreement that seeks to liberalize the continent’s airspace.
The African Union Director of Air Transport Ngoe Ndoh says the 14 members who are yet to sign the charter have committed to ratify the deal in 12 months.
The Single African Air Transport Market, was launched in January this year and hailed as the long awaited solution to the low level growth of the intra-African air transport.
Currently, intra-Africa air transport accounts for less than 20 percent of all air transport on the continent compared to more than 50 percent for Europe.
Out of the 28 members of the Single African Air Transport Market agreement, only 14 have committed to liberalize their skies.
African Union Director of Air Transport Ngoe Ndoh says the other 14 countries are at various stages of ratifying the Single African Air Transport Market charter due to strict legal requirements.
Among the countries that are yet to sign to the charter is Kenya which is reviewing its air transport regulations.
The 27 countries that have signed the Single African Air Transport Market represent 80 per cent of the passenger traffic in Africa.
The African Union is engaging with various heads of state in a bid to hasten the ratifying process.
Ngoe spoke on the sidelines of the International civil aviation air services agreement negotiations.
The five day meeting comes to an end Friday.
O’Brien Kimani
Source: kbc.co.ke
