African aviation leaders at the Kigali summit demanded open skies and financial support to address the collapse of 397 airlines since 1960, with intra-African connectivity at 43% in 2019—down from 46.6% in 2007. Experts warned that high operational costs, including fuel, taxes, and restrictive customs policies, make air travel unaffordable for most Africans, who spend three weeks' salary on domestic flights compared to three days in Europe and the U.S.
Despite 28 countries signing the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) treaty, only two have fully implemented it. Air Tanzania CEO Ladislaus Matindi called lingering colonial-era barriers a 'hangover' hindering progress, while Rwandair CEO Yvonne Makolo emphasized the need for regional cooperation to avoid isolation.
African airlines faced a $300 million net loss in 2019, slightly improved from $400 million in 2018, with Ethiopian Airlines reporting a $233 million profit in 2017/18. IATA forecasts predict Africa will remain the weakest airline region in 2019, though traffic is expected to grow 15% annually for two decades if liberalization occurs.
