Johannesburg, South Africa: On 15 July 2025, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) convened a high-level gathering of aviation stakeholders to deliberate on the state of aviation on the African continent. Representing Flying Jurist, I had the privilege of engaging in these crucial discussions, which brought to light both the promise and the persistent challenges facing African aviation. The dialogue underscored the central role of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) in unlocking Africa’s air connectivity potential, as well as the structural and regulatory hurdles that must be overcome to fully realise its benefits.
A Step Closer to a Seamless African Sky
The journey towards a more integrated and competitive African aviation market began with the Yamoussoukro Decision, which sought to liberalise air transport markets across the continent. The Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), a natural extension of this vision, has been gradually gaining traction, with Malawi recently joining the initiative, bringing the total number of signatories to 38 countries. While this expansion is encouraging, realising the full potential of SAATM requires bold steps to address lingering barriers.
Key Discussion Points from the ECA Gathering
Several themes emerged during our deliberations, each highlighting critical areas that need urgent attention:
- The economic and aviation benefits of SAATM: The liberalisation of African airspace is not just an aviation issue—it is an economic imperative. Efficient air connectivity stimulates trade, facilitates tourism, and enhances business growth. The alignment of SAATM with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is essential for seamless movement of goods and people across Africa.
- Bilateral air service agreements and Fifth Freedom rights: Many African airlines currently rely on fifth freedom rights to operate multiple flights across different countries. However, restrictive bilateral air service agreements (BASAs) limit their ability to expand. There is an urgent need to harmonise BASAs across the continent to ensure that air travel is not restricted by protectionist policies.
- Standardising cargo protocols & improving data access: Africa remains one of the most difficult places to obtain reliable cargo data, making it challenging for governments and private operators to make data-driven decisions. Additionally, cargo-specific regulations remain fragmented across different territories. Establishing harmonised cargo protocols and data-sharing frameworks will be vital in improving African cargo logistics and route development.
- The free movement of persons sovereignty v integration: Many African countries still treat visa regimes as revenue streams, with inconsistent fees and a lack of standardisation. This fragmentation, coupled with protectionist policies and weak border integration, undermines the objectives of SAATM. Addressing these issues requires coordinated efforts across regional economic communities (RECs) to ensure a common approach to mobility and border management.
- Political buy-in and lack of awareness among government departments:
A recurring challenge in implementing SAATM is the lack of awareness among key government sectors outside aviation regulatory bodies. Transport ministries may be well-versed in SAATM, but finance, trade, and home affairs ministries often lag behind in understanding its economic significance. The African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) and AfCFTA must work together to ensure high-level political buy-in across all relevant departments to drive aviation policy harmonisation.
Specific needs for Southern Africa
During the discussions, one of the discussants, Ms. Andile Mtetwa-Amaeshi, Director General of Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority, was asked what could be done to improve air connectivity across Africa and which stakeholders should be part of these efforts. She pointed out that many regional airlines operate on a small scale, often with fleets of just three aircraft (e.g., FastJet, Air Botswana, Eswatini Air). To optimise the SADC aviation market, countries must encourage cooperation among airlines rather than fostering an environment of competition that stifles growth.
She also noted that Africa must draw lessons from Asia, where regional air transport has been liberalised to encourage affordable and accessible air travel. Political leaders must recognise that aviation is not a luxury—it is a critical enabler of economic growth.
AfCFTA and SAATM – an inseparable partnership
A question posed to another discussant on how SAATM interfaces with AfCFTA elicited a very clear response: AfCFTA cannot succeed without a functional SAATM. The ability to move goods and people efficiently is fundamental to the success of AfCFTA. However, he cautioned that taxes and excessive charges remain a major barrier to affordable aviation access in Africa.
To catalyse the industry, he proposed a test initiative in one REC, where all flights within that region would be treated as domestic flights. This pilot project could provide valuable insights into the feasibility of broader air transport liberalisation.
Additionally, harmonising air navigation services remains a pressing concern. Fragmented oversight has long been a challenge, and it is time to align airspace management with SAATM’s pillar number 4, which calls for seamless navigation services (aviation infrastructure).
Flying Jurist’s call for the inclusion of general aviation
During the discussions, Flying Jurist raised an important concern: the extent to which continental aviation efforts consider general aviation. While commercial aviation expansion is crucial, general aviation serves as the foundation for industry-wide growth, as it is the primary feeder of skilled personnel to commercial airlines.
Harmonisation of training and licensing at the continental level must be prioritised to ensure that Africa produces a well-equipped aviation workforce capable of supporting both general and commercial aviation.
Final thoughts
The discussions at the ECA gathering were enlightening, reaffirming that Africa is on the right path—but the journey is far from over. The full realisation of SAATM depends on proactive policy shifts, cross-sector collaboration, and bold leadership.
Flying Jurist remains committed to advocating for a thriving African aviation sector—one where liberalisation, collaboration, and investment drive the continent forward. The time for action is now!
Prof. Angelo Dube
CEO, Flying Jurist
