Page 13 - LUA January - February 2023 Magazine

SAATM. The world now looks forward to Essentially, air cargo which is poorly
liberalisation of air transport in Africa. developed in Africa will permeate Africa
Based on the experience of the along new routes, city-pairs and points-
European Union (EU) on liberalisation, beyond expected which would be created
Peter Bombay, representative of the EU by ongoing liberalisation efforts and
at ICAO, encouraged Africa to begin multilateral air services agreements within
implementation of SAATM with few states Africa. The ongoing liberalisation efforts
in the pilot project, while others join in over are expected to produce 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th
the coming years. This view was one of the and 9th Freedom markets in parts of Africa
most remarkable outcomes of the SAATM which would drive movement of increased
workshop in Abuja. cargo within the continent or at least the
SAATM Pilot states.
AFRICA’S AIR CARGO GETS In fact, RwandAir said it is giving special
NEW TAILWIND offers for air cargo shippers as the airline
Air cargo is a major thrust and recently set up its cargo arm. There is strong
beneficiary of SAATM liberalisation and expectation that new cargo-only airlines
interconnectivity in Africa, and delegates would emerge, attracted by Africa’s current
at the air services event emphasized the liberalisation and MASAs regime in Africa.
essence of cargo and interconnectivity. At the moment, Africa’s air cargo
While cargo was the bulwark for many is driven by few excellent players like
airlines during the Covid-19 pandemic and Allied Air based in Lagos, Nigeria,
airlines converted their passenger aircraft to which is the largest cargo-only carrier
‘preighters’, cargo is set again to lift airlines in West and Central Africa; as well
in Africa from the nadir of their existence. as Astral Aviation based in Nairobi,
engage and elicit concrete implementation Africa still contributes only 1.9% of global Kenya, alongside bigger African airlines
of SAATM, which begins with AFCAC cargo, according to IATA’s report in January including Ethiopian Airlines Cargo and
engaging the highest level of government, 2023. Many expect Africa’s negligible cargo Kenya Airways Cargo.
the ministers and regulators, operators and share to significantly increase over the Yet most of Africa’s cargo is carried
support stakeholders, including non-core next 3-5 years on the back of liberalisation by foreign carriers mainly from the
aviation economic sectors such as finance, and improved air Middle East and Europe. While Saudi
immigration, national planning, interior, interconnectivity Arabia spoke enthusiastically about the
export and import ministries, and others. in Africa. groundswell of improvement in cargo
So far, 19 willing states have and 7th freedom in the state, the
joined the SAATM PIP Minister of Transport emphasized the
programme, while 36 importance of embracing the new
states have signed for cargo market in Africa.
INTERCONNECTIVITY
Adefunke TO CUT EMISSIONS
Adeyemi,
AFCAC’s As 2023 kicks off, the
Secretary establishment of new city-pairs
General with and points-beyond in Africa
Carla Iorio
of European would not only rev up
Union Aviation cargo movement,
Safety Agency
(EASA) but would also
shorten flight
duration generally
in Africa, thereby
cutting down
on emissions
that ensue from
unnecessary long
flights normally
embarked on just
to interconnect
adjacent cities
in Africa.

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2023 LUA 11