Poor infrastructure stunts African aviation growth

African governments must become more responsive to the challenges facing the aviation industry on the continent, said Kwa-Zulu Natal premier Sibusiso Ndebele at the opening of the Africa Indian Ocean Region Aviation Conference in Durban last week. “Among the major challenges militating against the growth of aviation on the continent is what is now generally accepted as poor infrastructure at most airports in Africa. This conference in the past has concluded that unless governments do something to drastically improve the situation, the African aviation sector will remain backward.” Ndebele said poor aviation safety, which stands at about 12 accidents per million departures against a world average of 1.16, must also be addressed. He said the issues of globalisation of airlines as well as the liberalisation of the industry were the most significant factors in the future of aviation in Africa.