Amidst call by Nigerian airline operators to the federal government not to follow through with the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has outlined the benefits of the new document to the aviation industry in Africa and to the continent.
The African Union formally established and launched the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) at the sideline of the ongoing 30th Ordinary Session at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The newly elected Chairperson of the African Union H.E. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat, performed the unveiling of the foundation stone of the initiative in the presence of the continent’s aviation players.
The Single African Air Transport Market (“SAATM”) is one of the Flagship Projects of the African Union’s Agenda 2063. It will ensure that aviation plays a major role in connecting Africa in order to achieve social, economic and political integration and boost intra-Africa trade. So far, 23 African States have formally signed on to the SAATM.
While highlighting the benefits of SAATM, IATA said the implementation will be of immense benefit the air travellers in the continent saying “air service liberalization would result in substantial benefits for passengers such as fare savings, more direct routes, increased route frequencies resulting in greater convenience and time savings. For example, there is currently no direct service between Algeria and Nigeria.”
“The most convenient routing available is via Morocco (Algiers-Casablanca-Lagos). The minimum journey time for this routing is 9 hours, but depending on connecting times could be as much as 17 hours. A direct service would reduce the travel time between Algiers and Lagos to approximately 4.5 hours.”
The international body stated that: “The impact of enhanced connectivity extend beyond those to passengers. The increased air service levels will stimulate employment in the aviation industry to
handle passengers and their baggage and to operate, service, and maintain aircraft.
“Liberalization would also be expected to stimulate trade and tourism between the countries, generating an estimated US$1.3 billion in additional spending. And perhaps most significantly, the increased air services could facilitate many other sectors of the economy by supporting increased trade, attracting new businesses to the region, encouraging investment and enhancing productivity and competitiveness. Industries and activities that would otherwise not exist in a region could be attracted by improved air transport connectivity.”
IATA added that: “The goal of the YD is to strengthen Safety and Security oversight on the continent and promote a climate of cooperation among African carriers through partnerships, mergers and consortiums. Improved airline brands will be able to compete favourably with stronger States or blocks of States
from outside the continent. The full implementation of YD will guarantee the creation of a larger market for
African carriers and an improved access to capital. In addition, airlines and governments can optimize existing
capacities.”
It stated that African Open Skies creates much more opportunities and economies of scales adding that when African airlines are empowered by this realization, economic development on the continent would be accelerated, thousands more jobs would be created and the movement of people within the continent will be enhanced.
The body further urged States to Gazette commitment to immediate implementation of the YD under the terms of the Declaration of Solemn Commitment in line with the AU Agenda 2063.
It further urged States to notify other State Parties that their Skies are liberalized in accordance with the YD (removal of all restrictions on traffic rights under the 3rd, 4th and 5th freedoms – frequencies, fares and capacity).
