Former Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Dr. Richard Aisuebeogun has called for more liberalised African airspace to enable greater connectivity and improve air transport on the continent.
He made the call during his presentation at the Walk for Love Africa Summit 2024, held in Lagos.
Aisuebeogun who is currently the Managing Director of Avialog Company Limited, emphasised the pivotal role of liberalisation in fostering inclusive growth across Africa.
Speaking on the theme: “Liberalization of the African Skies: The Way Forward,” Aisuebeogun stressed the importance of making concerted efforts in removing barriers and promoting competition within the continent’s aviation sector.With Africa’s population surpassing 1.46 billion across 54 diverse nations, Aisuebeogun reiterated the importance of intra-continental air travel growth.
However, he lamented the hindrances posed by sluggish liberalization efforts and Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASAs), which impede intra-African connectivity.
He identified high operating costs, restrictive visa policies, and disparities in liberalisation measures as significant challenges to African air travel.
Addressing these obstacles, he stressed the imperative of fostering sustainable growth and ensuring widespread accessibility to air travel across the continent.
Moreover, Aisuebeogun emphasised the crucial role of enhanced air connectivity in driving economic activities, trade, tourism, and investment within Africa and beyond.
Regarding the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) implementation, Aisuebeogun acknowledged progress but highlighted wavering compliance among African states, hindering the realisation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and its associated benefits.
In 1999 African ministers responsible for civil aviation under the aegis of the Organisation of African Unity (now the African Union) adopted the Yamoussoukro Decision – a multilateral agreement between Africa’s 54 countries designed to liberalise the continent’s aviation market.
The Yamoussoukro Decision is based on the recommendations of the Yamoussoukro Declaration 1988, which aimed at the full integration of the African air transport market. However, its primary focus at the time was the cooperation between and integration of African airlines and carriers. It was not until 1999, following the adoption of the Yamoussoukro Decision, that a policy shift from airline integration to the full liberalisation of air services in Africa took place. The Assembly of the African Union endorsed the Yamoussoukro Decision in 2000 and it became fully binding in 2002.
