CAAB decries restrictive African air agreements
Isaac Pinielo | Wednesday May 24, 2017 15:00
Speaking at the opening of the fourth aviation safety symposium in Gaborone this week, CAAB chairman, Mark John Sampson said aviation has the potential to make an important contribution to economic growth and development within Africa.
He said the lack of implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision, aimed at transforming intra-Africa air connectivity, has denied the continent and its people the economic benefits that could be accrued through aviation.
“Recent research has indicated that aviation already supports 6.9 million jobs and more than $80 billion in GDP across Africa,” said Sampson.
He added that research findings by InterVISTAS Consulting demonstrate that liberalisation will create opportunities for further significant growth and economic development.
Therefore, Sampson urged African aviation experts to work extra hard to make sure the Yamoussoukro Decision is implemented to accrue benefits to the continent.
“It is regrettable that the implementation of this decision has been very slow and therefore, denying Africa and its people of a free market,” he said.
He noted that up to date the benefits of the Yamoussoukro Decision have not been realised, adding that the lack of implementation has denied potential five million passengers a year the chance to travel between the African markets because countries continue to impose restrictions on establishing air routes.
The African continent has in the past few years recognised the need for collaboration in order to strengthen their economic potential. He said aviation will play a significant role in driving the economies of the African continent, only when they achieve meaningful collaboration.
“So long as we work as individual countries this will remain but a dream,” said Sampson.
A World Bank study indicated that part of the reason for the lagging behind in the performance of the African aviation industry is that many African countries restrict their air services markets to protect the share held by state-owned air carriers.
Transport and communications minister, Kitso Mokaila said the government has acceded to the full implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision, and therefore has signed the solemn declaration of establishing the single air transport market for Africa by this year.
“In this regard, we have witnessed a yield of positive results in that airlines are beginning to operate direct and transit flights to Botswana,” he said.