Air connectivity: Long way for Africa, Latin America says IATA

• Support $2.7 trilliion economic activity

IATA Chief Economist, Brian Pearce attributed the problems to flight restrictions by governments in the continent as against ‘Open Skies’ enshrined in the proposed Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) which many said would be a significant step forward in opening the way for essential improvement in air connectivity in the region.

Pearce admitted that, “Latin America and Africa in particular have a long way to catch up”, stressing inter connectivity would help to grow modern business and supply chain which depend on rapid and efficient air transport connections.

Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is one of the biggest cities in Africa, with an estimated population larger than London and a skyline that peers over the wide, snaking Congo River.

But if a traveler wants to go from there to Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital and Africa’s largest metropolis, it’s impossible to fly nonstop.

Roughly 1,100 miles separate the two megacities—about the same distance as New York to Minneapolis.

But there are no direct flights. Instead, a traveler will need to change planes at least once and pay a minimum of $1,200. There’s a good chance the journey will take well more than 12 hours.

Across Africa, the situation is similar. Commercial flights are infrequent, expensive, and circuitous. To get from one country to another, an African traveler may have to go thousands of miles out of their way and transfer through the Middle East or Europe.

The continent is home to roughly 12 percent of the world’s population and will be responsible for most of the global population growth over the next three decades.

It accounts for just one per cent of the world’s air travel market. The flights that do exist are often more expensive than routes of similar duration elsewhere in the world.

A combination of protectionist legal barriers and regulatory hurdles, mixed with inadequate infrastructure, high taxes, and stubborn nationalism have been blamed  for the predicament..

Airlines trying to launch a new route between African nations need to first secure permission from both countries, which can be a lengthy and expensive prospect that may or may not involve significant bribes.

Forty-four African nations signed on to a 1999 agreement promising to promote competitive markets and remove regulatory barriers. To date, few have actually implemented the plan, known as the Yamoussoukro Decision (named after the Côte d’Ivoire capital in which it was reached).

The IATA chief said, “Not all regions are as well connected. To improve trade, investments and the other drivers of economic development enabled by efficient air services. Many more cities need to be connected in regions outside North America”.

“Latin America and Africa in particular have long way to catch up. The proposed Single African Air Transport Market would be a significant step forward in opening the way for essential improvement in air connectivity within Africa”.

He added that the clearing house for over 290 global airlines would early 2020 launch a new publication measuring air connectivity and its progress across the world.

Earlier in his remark on the industry financial performance, Director-General of IATA, Alexandre de Juniac said the group support $2.7 trillion of economic activity, equivalent to 3.6 per cent of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He noted that inspite of all the wealth they have created for the world, profitability has always been a challenge, adding that it is only since the end of the global financial crisis that the airline industry has achieved a stable stream of profits.

Wole Shadare