Flying within Africa shouldn't be harder than flying abroad

…calls for stronger intra connectivity, viable airports

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has said poor connectivity between African countries is one of the major challenges facing the continent’s aviation industry.

Keyamo spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at the opening ceremony of the 35th Airports Council International (ACI) Africa Annual General Assembly, themed “Next-Gen Airports: Driving Performance and Resilience.” He said it should not be easier to travel between an African city and a destination outside the continent than between two African cities.

He said travellers across Africa often have to fly through hubs in Europe or the Middle East to reach neighbouring countries, because direct routes within the continent are few and this results in longer journeys and higher fares.

To change this, Keyamo said Africa needs stronger intra-African connectivity, commercially viable airports, appropriate regulatory frameworks and closer cooperation among governments, airlines, airport operators and other stakeholders

He said the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) is an important framework for achieving this ambition as it aims to open up the continent’s skies by liberalising air services between member states.

He said: “There is, significantly, one challenge we must confront collectively, and that is the challenge of connectivity. It should not be easier to travel between an African city and a destination outside the continent than to travel between two African cities. The African Continental Free Trade Area is creating a larger economic space. Aviation must help make that economic integration real. When African airports connect Africa more effectively, Africa becomes smaller, and opportunity becomes larger.”

Speaking on how passenger experience can be more efficient, he said: “Biometrics can make processing easier. Artificial intelligence can improve operational decisions. Automation can reduce queues. Data can help us anticipate demand. Digital platforms can improve communication. But technology is only meaningful when it makes a person’s journey safer, easier, faster and more dignified. We must therefore build smart airports with human hearts.

“There is therefore a call for collective action. This is where ACI Africa has an indispensable role. No country has all the answers. No airport can solve every challenge alone. But together, we can share experience, benchmark performance, develop capacity, attract investment and advocate policies that strengthen African aviation.”