The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said Nigerian airlines would benefit hugely from the free movement of the region’s carriers from one country to another in the continent, known as open sky for Africa.
The international body on Tuesday urged Nigerian airlines to take advantage of the treaty, Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) to expand their operations across the continent.
Vice President, IATA for Africa, Adefunke Adeyemi, gave the advice while speaking at the just concluded Akwaaba Travel and Tourism Fair in Lagos.
Adeyemi noted that SAATM was inaugurated by Heads of States of the African Union (AU) in January to deepen bilateral relations among countries and foster cooperation among the airlines.
According to her, Nigerian carriers have right to fly into about 40 African countries and can establish hubs in these countries through negotiations and mutually beneficial air service agreements.
Adeyemi noted that no Nigerian carrier was flying to Chad and Niger Republic despite the presence of a viable trade on the routes.
She said it was unfortunate that the airlines were not taking advantage of the SAATM the way Ethiopian Airlines had done so far including its entering into technical partnership with Asky, based in Lome, Togo.
Adeyemi said African airlines should form alliances among themselves to improve their operations as well as profits, adding that some of them already belonged to international platforms like Star Alliance.
She added that the airlines should also strive to secure the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certificate which would enable them play on the global stage.
Adeyemi however decried the high cost of air fares in Africa which she attributed to excessive aviation charges by African governments and also the notion that air travel was exclusively for the rich.
“It is 45 per cent more expensive to fly across Africa than any other region in the world. That is why we are trying to let African governments know that is not an elitist means of transportation,” she said.
Also, Senior Manager, Air Namibia, Wimpie Van Vuuren, said despite the initial fears, SAATM had enabled the airline to expand its operations to Ghana and Nigeria.
He said African airlines should look beyond the initial challenges of the policy and find ways to make it beneficial to their operations.
On his part, former managing director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Richard Aisuebeogun, said governments must find ways to address the infrastructural deficit in the aviation sector in Africa.
Aisuebeogun noted that upgrading of airport infrastructures would not only help reduce air fares but would attract more investors to the sector.
The Lagos State Government has commended the organisers of Akwaaba African Travel Market (AAfTM) for sustaining the tourism event for 14 years without any break.
THISDAY
