African aviation leaders and policymakers on Wednesday called for stronger regional cooperation and the accelerated implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) to improve connectivity and stimulate economic growth.
The appeal was made at the ‘10th Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition’, held on Wednesday and Thursday in Nairobi, Kenya. The event attracted about 2,500 delegates from more than 100 countries, including representatives from 135 airlines and aviation operators.
Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, urged African countries to establish a unified airspace to support trade, tourism and investment under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
SAATM, a flagship initiative of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, seeks to remove market restrictions, expand air routes, promote competition and reduce travel costs across the continent. African Civil Aviation Commission Secretary-General AdeSewa Adeyemi called for faster regulatory harmonisation and mutual recognition of aviation safety standards.
Meanwhile, African Airlines Association Secretary-General Abderahmane Berthe identified high fuel taxes, currency volatility and restrictive bilateral air service agreements as major obstacles to airline profitability and regional expansion. He urged governments and industry stakeholders to deepen cooperation to build a more competitive and resilient African aviation sector.