Africa’s fragmented air transport market is raising business costs and weakening the promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), regional government representatives warned ahead of the Africa Mindset Reset Forum in Kigali. Delegates said much of the legal framework needed to liberalize air travel across the continent is already in place, but implementation, financing and political will continue to hamper progress.
Discussions focused on moving forward with the Yamoussoukro Decision, the landmark treaty aimed at opening African skies through expanded traffic rights. “Open skies cannot be achieved through policy commitments alone,” said Lufeyo Banda, a representative of the African Development Bank. He said financing, fleet modernization, stronger institutions and better connectivity must be tackled together.
