'Open Skies' Archives - Aviation metric

Why Africa’s ‘Open Skies’ Remain Locked in the Hangar

Posted on February 24, 2026February 24, 2026 by Wole Shadare

The message from the industry is clear: Africa no longer needs more signatures; it needs schedules. Without enforcement mechanisms to hold non-compliant signatories accountable, SAATM risks becoming another paper tiger in a continent desperate for connectivity, writes WOLE SHADARE For nearly a decade, the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) has been hailed as the holy grail of African aviation—a flagship project of the AU’s Agenda 2063 designed to dismantle the restrictive bilateral walls that…

‘Open Skies’ albatross for Nigerian carriers

Posted on May 21, 2024 by Wole Shadare

Despite a five-year head start, US carriers trump Nigerian carriers in the unrestricted capacity and frequency of service, writes, WOLE SHADARE Solidifying ‘Open Skies’ The US-Nigeria ‘Open Skies’, agreement which has been provisionally applied since 2000 entered into force on May 13, 2024. The agreement includes provisions that allow for unrestricted capacity and frequency of services, open route rights, a liberal charter regime, and open code-sharing opportunities between the two countries. “This bilateral agreement establishes…