This archive report was first published on 10 December 2019.
Published on December 10, 2019, at the Routes Africa Conference in Mombasa, industry experts warned that attempts to constrain liberalisation in Africa could have devastating consequences for the continent's aviation market.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a rise in protectionist measures could curb the forecasted growth of Africa's air transport market by about 50 million passengers over the next two decades.
Speaking at the conference, Raphael Kuuchi, Vice President of Africa at IATA, highlighted the potential impact of protectionism on the continent's aviation market. He noted that if current regional and global economic trends continue, the size of the continent's market will reach 356 million passengers by 2038.
However, Kuuchi warned that a pick-up in protectionism could wipe more than 50 million off that total, resulting in a loss of over 300 million passengers who would have traveled to, from, and within Africa by 2038.
On the other hand, if there is an acceleration of growth, driven by policies including the Single African Air Transport Market, the African market in 20 years will be more than 400 million passengers in size.
Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) Ag. Managing Director Alex Gitari emphasized the need for strategic planning and long-term investment plans, especially in the areas of air transport infrastructure, to support the growth of the aviation market.
