African Development Bank Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialisation vice president, Pierre Guslain, has called for “bold action” to improve connectivity, market access and cost reduction in Africa’s aviation sector.
He said that aviation played a critical role in boosting economic growth by integrating the continent’s fragmented markets and that improving it would help to open intra-African aviation and lift remaining traffic restrictions.
“We all know that travelling in Africa remains inconvenient and costly,” said Guislain. “Today, a two and a half hour flight from Lilongwe to Johannesburg costs three times more than a similar flight from Rome to London.”
He highlighted private sector finance and investment as critical to improving the sector and pointed out that liberalisation of the industry could spur regional integration and trade by bridging the 54 fragmented African markets.
Additionally, Guislain emphasised that more open visa policies needed to be adopted and the industry required a tough look at ways to cut costs related to high fees, taxes, charges and airport levies.
