" L'Africa represents 18 % of the world population, but only 2.1 % for air transport activities (freight and passengers combined). "Focus Africa aims to close this gap, so that Africa can benefit from the connectivity, jobs and growth associated with aviation. "explains Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA, at the presentation of the initiative "Focus Africa" on 3 April.
Urgent action needed: financial losses and shortage of foreign currency
L'Africa is suffering fromlimited infrastructure, high operating costs and a lack of connectivity. In addition obstacles standards and labour shortages.work. All these factors are detrimental to customer experience and the viability and sustainability of African airlines.
What's more, the continent's airlines find themselves in the midst of an economic crisis. financial insecurity. They have undergone cumulative losses of 3,5 billion $ over the 2020 period–2022. IATA also remains pessimistic about short-term trends. The association estimates that losses in 2023 will still amount to 213 millions $.
African airlines are also facing another time bomb. It's called currency shortage. IATA estimates that 1.6 billion in funds belonging to airlines, which are currently blocked in various African countries. IATA is now trying to reduce a foreign exchange deficit that has increased by 25 % in the last six months of 2022.
Currencies blocked, airlines suspended
This situation worries the association. " The people who suffer from these blocked funds are the consumers of these marketsAirlines cannot be expected to continue providing services if they are not paid." said Willie Walsh, IATA Director General.
IATA states that the impossibility of recovering these funds could lead to air service interruptions if no progress is made in negotiations to release the funds due. This would further disconnect Africa's airspace from the rest of the planet.
In Nigeria, for example, British Airways has suspended its flightsThis is due to the impossibility of recovering foreign currency. The government is blocking any conversion of local currency by the airlines. Airlines can no longer repatriate their ticket sales revenue. On the IATA list of countries withholding funds, Alongside Nigeria, there are also Algeria and Ghana..
If this currency problem is resolved, the "Focus Africa" initiative will come into its own. It aims to rustainably linking the continent through transcontinental and intercontinental routess. And so stimulate economic development and social.
For IATA, the continent's connectivity is essential to the development of tourism and trade.. These are the main providers of jobs and income. Before the Covid, aviation supported 7.7 million jobs and generated 63 billion in economic activity in Africa. IATA is optimistic about demand over the next few years. The association expects it to triple over the next two decades.
Six areas of action for IATA
" Africa stands out as the region with the greatest potential and the most potential for growth. opportunities for aviation. The Focus Africa initiative reiterates IATA's commitment to aviation on the continent. As Chair-designate of IATA's Board of Governors, and the first to Coming from Africa since 1993, I'm eager to get this initiative off to a flying start and deliver measurable benefits. "said Yvonne Makolo, CEO of RwandAir.
Six priority areas have been identified by the association for this initiative.
- Security Improving operational safety through a collaborative programme to reduce the number of safety incidents and accidents, both in flight and on the ground.
- Infrastructure To facilitate the growth of an efficient aviation infrastructure, secured and economic to improve customer experience and operational efficiency.
- Connectivity Promote the liberalisation of intra-EU market access.–Africa through MSingle African Air Transport Archipelago (SAATM).
- Finance and distribution accelerate the implementation of secure financial services,
and adoption of modern commercial standards.
- Durability to help Africa's airline industrys emission targets.
programme " Net Zero by 2050 "adopted by the industry and the Member States of
ICAO.
- Future skills promoting careers in aviation and aerospaceuring availability skills to meet the industry's future needs.
Dhe partnerships will be announced and implemented at Addis Ababa on 20 and 21 June at the official launch of the Focus Africa initiative. The aim is to enable African air traffic to flourish as it does in the rest of the world.
