Why ‘open skies’ has failed so far

The African Union
has put open skies
firmly back on
the table but there
are certain lessons from
past failed attempts that
governments
and national
carriers need
to be aware of
before drawing
up policies
around this.
International
transport
logistics expert
and chairman of
Africa Atlantic
Holdings,
Issa Baluch,
told FTW in
Johannesburg
recently that
implementation of the
Yamoussoukro Declaration
(1988) and the subsequent
Yamoussoukro Decision
(1999) for liberalised skies
in Africa had largely failed
because the rights of the
users – cargo owners and
passengers – had taken
second place to the needs
of governments and
national carriers.
“Nepotism prevailed
and there
was a lack
of accord
between
regional
trade blocs
as certain
regions
pursued
their own
open skies
initiatives,”
explained
Baluch,
adding
that
southern Africa’s
biggest challenge was
a lack of training and
understanding of how to
implement it.
Another major loophole
was the fact that the YD
policies were structured
in such a way that
they weren’t legally
binding. “And without
a monitoring body to
ensure implementation
and policy compliance,
it was basically a freefor-
all and carriers
and governments could
protect their own
interests,” said Baluch.
Airfreight general
manager for CFR Freight,
Stephen Bishop, told
FTW that he supported
the concept of open skies in
what he regards as a very
heavily regulated industry
on the African continent.
“Our American and
European counterparts
have shown that by
deregulating the industry,
the improved competition
will create better value for
airfreight customers,” he
said.
Bishop cautioned
however that parastatals
and national carriers
risked becoming obsolete
if they did not adapt
quickly enough to a more
competitive environment.
“I still feel there is too
much bureaucracy for this to
become a reality within the
next year,” he commented.
Tleli Makheta, general
manager: cargo for South
African Airways (SAA),
told FTW that he was
“optimistic” about the
opportunities offered for
growth on the continent
through open skies.
“It would mean more
harmonised safety, security
and customs regulations
which would make it
easier to do business via
airfreight,” he said.
INSERT & CAPTION
I still feel there is too
much bureaucracy
for this to become
a reality within the
next year.
– STEPHEN BISHOP