Page 18 - LUA July - August 2023 Magterz and Online

INTERVIEW

With a continued reliance on
international travel, Africa continues to
be vulnerable to external shocks. The
domestic traffic in Africa will recover to
the 2019 level as from this year whereas
for the international traffic to reach the
level of 2019, we need to wait until 2024.

? What is the potential of private
sector development and
management of African airports, given
the urgent need to transform the Africa’s
airports industry and economy?
The private sector involvement in African
airports remains very low, with the
distribution of passenger traffic held by
privately managed or owned airports
standing currently at 11%, compared to
Asia-Pacific at 47%, Latin America at
66% and Europe at 75%, and with the
world averaging 43%. The global airport
operators, currently having a stake in the
management or ownership of African
airports, are Egis, TAV, ADP, VINCI,
Limak and Summa. And, there are
potential African airports privatisation costs of airports are largely fixed, due to
presently under way in Nigeria, Angola, At ACI Africa, investments in infrastructure but also
Rwanda, Cameroon and Burkina Faso. we are totally due to the associated operating costs,
The potential to increase private including those relating to safety and
sector participation in the financing convinced that the security, which vary little with the volume
of airport operations and development SAATM is the way of traffic. Secondly, the cost of operating
exists. What is required to enable private airports in Africa is high and this is
sector participation on the continent forward if Africa wants often linked with the need to pre-finance
are reliable regulatory frameworks, a a full reform of its air investment projects. Airports with very
move toward well-crafted economic low traffic therefore face unfavorable
incentives, and a move from single till transport industry and credit and financing conditions vis-à-
regimes to dual and hybrid tills, which to unite its fragmented vis funding agencies. Thirdly, airport
induces cost efficiencies and innovations infrastructure is a key component of air
on the commercial side of the airport air transport market, connectivity and naturally, increasing
business to reduce the over-reliance on in order to bring about traffic allows airports to invest in
aeronautical revenues. adequate airport infrastructure to meet
At ACI Africa, we do not prescribe the air liberalization capacity demands.
any specific ownership or management revolution, and Unfortunately, Africa has a poor track
model of airports as each case is unique record in liberalising air transport, which
and has to be examined on its merits and enhance the air significantly hinders connectivity and
derived benefits for both parties, i.e. the connectivity, we have competition. Air transport liberalisation
government and the private operator. benefits airports of all sizes, as a more
all been craving for. liberalised environment allows airlines
? Would you say infrastructure has to fly to secondary airports and capture
remarkably improved among
untapped markets.
African airports, and what is ACI Africa hence boost air traffic, and be financially
doing to encourage infrastructure viable and sustainable going forward. ? Africa has renewed efforts to
improvement at Africa’s airports? There are, however, a number create easy access for African
African airports do not have the choice of crucial elements related to the airlines to markets around the
if they are to improve their safety and development of airport infrastructure continent under the Single African Air
security, the quality of services offered to in Africa that needs to be taken into Transport Market (SAATM), while
passengers, to attract more airlines and consideration. First of all, the operating promoting easy movement of goods

16 LUA JULY - AUGUST 2023