Single aviation transport market soon for Africa

AN AFRICAN single air transport market will be launched in January, 2018, with 40-plus countries expected to be signatories by then. So far, 20 African countries out of 55 have subscribed to the African single air market. The statement was made by David Kajange, head of the transport and tourism division, department of infrastructure and energy at the AU yesterday,at a media briefing on the sidelines of the 29th AU in the Ethiopian capital. A single air transport market is one of the goals of AU’s Agenda 2063, aiming to connect Africa through aviation and other transport infrastructure to achieve integration and boost intra-Africa trade. The single air transport market also aims to boost tourism, economic growth and economic development of African nations. Kajange says Africa became the most expensive air transport market in the world, because of individual nations’ policies and regulations that hinder air connectivity. Air transport in Africa is on average twice as expensive as the world average, says Euroavia International.