fbpx
No Result
View All Result
Nomad Africa Magazine | Celebrating the world's richest continent
  • Home
  • Tourism Updates
  • For Subscribers
  • Destinations
  • Culture
  • Get Published
  • More4U
    • Travel Tips
    • News Africa
    • Aviation
    • Special Features
    • Food+Wine
    • Showcase
    • Spotlight
    • Sponsored
    • Events
    • Tourism Data & Stats
    • Opinion
    • Survey/Polls
    • Watch
    • COVID19 Updates
  • Deals
    • Flights
    • Hotels
    • Tours
    • Shop
  • Login
SUBSCRIBE
Nomad Africa Magazine | Celebrating the world's richest continent
  • Home
  • Tourism Updates
  • For Subscribers
  • Destinations
  • Culture
  • Get Published
  • More4U
    • Travel Tips
    • News Africa
    • Aviation
    • Special Features
    • Food+Wine
    • Showcase
    • Spotlight
    • Sponsored
    • Events
    • Tourism Data & Stats
    • Opinion
    • Survey/Polls
    • Watch
    • COVID19 Updates
  • Deals
    • Flights
    • Hotels
    • Tours
    • Shop
  • Login
SUBSCRIBE
No Result
View All Result
Nomad Africa Magazine | Celebrating the world's richest continent
No Result
View All Result

IATA Welcomes Single African Air Transport Market Initiative by African Union

Miriro Matema by Miriro Matema
in Special Feature
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0 0
0
IATA Welcomes Single African Air Transport Market Initiative by African Union
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has welcomed  the launch of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) initiative by the  African Union (AU).

The initiative is set to open up Africa’s skies and improve intra-African air connectivity, which in turn will stimulate demand, improve African airline industry competitiveness and allow for an increase in air travel accessibility, thereby generating higher volumes of trade, expanded tourism and growing commerce between African nations and the rest of the world.

“The SAATM has the potential for remarkable transformation that will build prosperity while connecting the African continent. Every open air service arrangement has boosted traffic, lifted economies and created jobs, and we expect no less in Africa on the back of the SAATM agreement. An IATA survey suggested that if just 12 key African countries opened their markets and increased connectivity, an extra 155,000 jobs and $1.3bn in annual GDP would be created in those countries,” said Rapahel Kuuchi, IATA’s vice president for Africa.

“We commend the 23 states that have signed up to SAATM. It is an important step forward, but the benefits of a connected continent will only be realised through effective implementation of SAATM – firstly by the countries already committed and also by the remaining 32 AU member nations still to come on board,” added Kuuchi.
One of the main obstacles to the implementation of previous open skies pledges – 1988 Yamoussoukro Declaration and 1999 Yamoussoukro Decision – has been the absence of an underpinning regulatory text. IATA welcomes the AU’s adoption of the regulatory text of the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) – also the framework for SAATM – which covers competition and consumer protection and dispute settlements, as these safeguard the efficient operation of the market.

“This decision is momentous. SAATM is a decisive step towards greater intra-African connectivity and delivers the framework on which to achieve it. Now it’s time to get down to the work of implementation. Greater connectivity will lead to greater prosperity. Governments must act on their commitments, and allow their economies to fly high on the wings of aviation,” concluded Kuuchi.

An extract from 1999 Yamoussoukro Decision: Aviation is a vital tool for development globally and has the potential to greatly transform and improve economic and social benefits across Africa. The SAATM is therefore a clear path for a more prosperous and secure African future. Improved intra-Africa connectivity facilitates business and trade, enables tourism, connects friends, families and cultures, and promotes the exchange of knowledge and ideas. Aviation is the foundation of many established and emerging economies, e.g. UAE, Singapore, Rwanda, Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire. The African aviation market however remains underdeveloped, especially when it comes to connectivity within the continent, presenting infinite opportunities.

ADVERTISEMENT

Air connectivity is a measure of economic potential and opportunity. The better connected a country is by air, the greater its ability to unlock the economic and social benefits that air transport can deliver. Currently, air connectivity in Africa is focused on international routes, most especially from Europe and the Middle East, whilst intra-Africa connectivity is much more limited. Air connectivity has many dimensions; the number of routes, the range of destinations served, the frequency of services and ‘number of seats’ available to and from a country. Passenger benefits of enhanced connectivity are air service liberalisation 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 impact of enhanced connectivity extends 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.

Liberalisation 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. The future of air transport in Africa: 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 optimise existing capacities. African Open Skies creates much more opportunities and economies of scale. When African airlines are empowered by this realisation, economic development on the continent would be accelerated, thousands more jobs would be created and the move. Travel and tourism is vital to the globalised economy.

This article was written by KRISTIE OMAR.

ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Fast Jet Making moves to help Open Skies Drive Tourism

Next Post

Blocked Funds: Increasing Problem for Airlines In Africa

Miriro Matema

Miriro Matema

Born in Zimbabwe and living in South Africa, Miriro is a seasoned publishing editor and writer, having worked with leading brands in investment, business leadership and entrepreneurship. Passionate about Africa’s development, Miriro is also a dynamic marketing consultant with 10 years experience working with startups and large multinational corporations. With a heart for travel, Miriro spends her time discovering the nooks of crannies of Africa’s hidden gems, taking the roads less travelled, meeting the beautiful people and enjoying their food and culture. She enjoys tackling complex strategic challenges in the passion-to-entrepreneurship pipeline, particularly focused on the implications of 4th Industrial Revolution and workforce automation on Africa's travel and tourism industry.

Related Posts

edit post
Cruising: Growing Popularity and Satisfaction?
Special Feature

Cruising: Growing Popularity and Satisfaction?

November 19, 2023
edit post
Kenya’s Largest Wind Farm: Paving the Way for Green Energy in Africa?
News

Kenya’s Largest Wind Farm: Paving the Way for Green Energy in Africa?

October 12, 2023
edit post
Gigafactory in Africa: An Opportunity to Reshape the Continent’s Future?
Special Feature

Gigafactory in Africa: An Opportunity to Reshape the Continent’s Future?

October 9, 2023
Next Post
edit post
Blocked Funds: Increasing Problem for Airlines In Africa

Blocked Funds: Increasing Problem for Airlines In Africa

Please login to join discussion
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT

Recent Posts

  • Looking for a Time-Luxurious Holiday for 2024? Here are Four Important Tips you Need
  • Tintswalo Pioneers Crypto as Payment Option
  • René Koinzack appointed new Senior Director Sales Southern & East Africa, Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea
  • Saudi Red Sea Authority Champions Coastal Tourism at ILTM Cannes
  • Turkish Airlines’ Wholly Owned Subsidiary AJET to Commence Flights in 2024
  • @Deli Redefines Luxury Dining in the Heart of Sandton
  • Cruising: Growing Popularity and Satisfaction?
  • Resorts: Perfect Venue for Destination Weddings?
  • Travel & Tourism in Africa could Boost Continent’s Economy by US$168BN over the Next 10 Years
  • South Africa Proposes Overhaul of Immigration Laws
  • Tourism Associations Supports Patricia De Lille’s Approach To Tourism Growth
  • St Helena’s Marine Protected Area Declared an International Hope Spot
  • Right Equipment Combined with Determination Helped Cultivated my Success as a Small Scale Farmer – Sihle Ntozini
  • Here are 13 Exciting Adventures to Satisfy Your Desire to See the World
  • Sub-Saharan Africa GDP Forecast to Double by 2040 to USD 4.5 Trillion
ADVERTISEMENT

Trending on NomadTV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2bhBUqVHDw&t=3s

Tags

Africa African Cultural Sites African Tourism African Tribes Africa Travel Aviation Bucket list Business Tourism Business Travel Cape Town Covid-19 Covid19 Culture Energy eswatini Events Exclusive Exclusive Interview Existence Hotel Hotels Johannesburg Kenya Mauritius News Nigeria Rwanda Showcase South Africa South African Tourism Industry swaziland Tanzania Top Destination Top Ten Tourism Tourism Africa Tourism News Tourism Recovery Travel Travel News Travel Tech Travel Tips Travel Trends Uganda Zimbabwe

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Project
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Partner with us
  • Invest In Nomad
  • Donate
  • Get In Touch
Call us: +27.[0]10.590.6264, +27.719.130.776, +27.610.817.489 Email: info@nomadafricamag.com.
Send all press releases to editor@nomadafricamag.com.

© 2015 - 2023 All Rights Reserved 2414 Publishing (Pty) Ltd. Designed & Developed by: CreativeMagic Group.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Tourism News
  • Features
  • Top Destinations
  • Beliefs & Existence
  • Spotlight
  • Showcase
  • Get Published
  • Subscribe
  • Login

© 2015 - 2023 All Rights Reserved 2414 Publishing (Pty) Ltd. Designed & Developed by: CreativeMagic Group.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Wait! Have You Subscribed?

Subscribe to Nomad Africa today and never miss out on
travel and tourism updates across the continent of Africa. Get industry insights,
travel tips and understand how the latest trends will affect your business.
Get great member benefits, learn more about African culture and
support tourism in Africa. Subscription starts from only
R15 ($1 USD) per month. Cancel Anytime.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Add New Playlist