This archive report was first published on 1 September 2019.
Luanda, Angola - The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) is working towards creating an interconnected Africa, which would boost intra-African connectivity, trade, and tourism, according to AFRAA Secretary General Abdérahmane Berthé. Speaking in Luanda, Berthé highlighted the benefits of inter-African connectivity, including economies of scale that would benefit the industry and allow African carriers to dominate African skies.
However, Berthé also lamented the negative effect of excessive taxes, charges, surcharges, and fees on the sustainability of African airlines. He noted that high taxes and charges make African airlines less competitive, as the levies have a significant impact on the financial performance of airlines operating in a high-cost environment.
During a meeting with TAAG Angola Airlines Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rui Curreira, Berthé emphasized the need for African airlines to be competitive. He cited fuel costs as a significant challenge, with fuel alone accounting for 30-40% of airlines' operating costs in Africa. Berthé also highlighted the issue of opacity on fuel pricing, where some countries levy taxes on fuel contrary to the Chicago Convention.
AFRAA is working to address these challenges through its Action Plan, which aims to transform the industry and promote positive economic progress across the continent. The association is also launching a Consultancy Unit to provide utility-oriented studies and support its members.
Additionally, AFRAA is a member of the Monitoring Body of the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) of 1999 on open skies and will be at the forefront of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) implementation. The association will facilitate the incorporation of the views and concerns of its members to the successful implementation of SAATM.
