Air Transport: How Central African Companies Can Capture, International Markets

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Air Transport: How Central African Companies Can Capture, International Markets

11 nov. 2024 15:58

Air transport in Africa is a vigorously growing sector. However, the growth, though an important element of the sector, does not provide a complete perspective on its health. Several important facts play a role in truly understanding where Africa’s air transport has been, is now, and where it might develop. Air transport volumes in Africa are still very low when compared to the rest of the world: with 104 million seats, on all types of routes, sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is far behind the country of Brazil, with 120 million seats, of which nearly 100 million are domestic traffic only. Other comparisons are as staggering. In the area of Washington DC in the US, three airports (Reagan National Airport, Dulles Airport, and Baltimore Washington International Airport) had 68.5 million passengers in 2015, which would translate to 90 million seats at a load factor of 76 per cent. This is nearly all of the capacity offered in all of Sub Saharan Africa. The distribution of these capacities is also important: the main air transport corridors are along the East, stretching from South Africa to Kenya and north to Ethiopia, all three being important hubs. No such hubs exist in Central Africa, which only has minimum service as far as air transport is concerned. Another factor is the fact that Africa still leads in hull losses due to accidents, and retains a safety record that is in most need of improvement when compared to the rest of the world. From Gabon, passing through Chad, Central African Republic, Cameroon to Congo and Equatorial Guinea, Central African countries lack a sustainable air transport link. National air companies in the sub-region are practically inexistent or where they exist, they are shrouded with a myriad of challenges that impedes their smooth functioning. Given the high cost of fares, the inadequacy of routes between States, the deterioration of airport infrastructures, and the shortcomings in air navigation assistance, experts from the CEMAC sub-region met in Cameroon’s economic capital on 18 to 19 January 2023, to make discuss strategies that will make air transport a cornerstone of development. Yet, much has not changed in reality. Apart...