The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) and Royal Air Maroc will hold the 50th Annual General Assembly in Rabat from 25 to 27 November 2018, bringing together airline leaders and aviation stakeholders from across the continent.
The meeting is being organized under the theme “Strengthening African aviation in a liberalized environment.” Among the expected participants are the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Arab Air Carriers Association.
AFRAA Secretary General Abdérahmane Berthé said the gathering is especially significant because it coincides with the association’s 50th anniversary. He described the assembly as a major moment for African aviation and said it reflects the progress made by the sector over the years.
“It is with great pleasure that we will convene for the 50th Annual General Assembly (AGA) which also coincides with AFRAA’s 50th anniversary, a historic milestone for African Aviation. We are indeed proud of the great strides achieved in this sector and of our support to African Airlines over the years in creating an enabling environment for the development of a prosperous industry,” said Abdérahmane Berthé, AFRAA’s Secretary General ahead of the summit.
Berthé also said the AGA offers a rare opportunity to shape a common direction for the industry because it brings together more stakeholders and principal decision-makers than any other aviation event in Africa.
At the 2018 assembly, AFRAA and other stakeholders are expected to launch the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) handbook. The publication is meant to serve as a reference point for efforts to make SAATM fully operational.
AFRAA said it continues to work with partners toward the realization of SAATM, which it sees as a key step in expanding African aviation.
Discussions at the Rabat meeting will focus on SAATM implementation, disruptive innovation and customer experience, alongside other issues affecting the industry’s growth. The source report also notes the association’s work on the market dates back to 2016.
