African carriers plot to guard their skies from foreign airlines

By Cyrus Kinyungu

African Airlines have appointed a new secretary general to champion the airlines’ interest as they fight penetration of the continent’s market by foreign carriers.

Members of the African Airlines Association (Afraa), the umbrella body representing more than 40 carriers in Africa, appointed Mr Nick Fadugba, the publisher and editor of African Aviation Magazine to replace Mr Christian Folly-Kossi as the association’s secretary General.

Folly-Kossi will be retiring early next year after serving the association for 10 years as its secretary general.

The appointment was communicated to member airlines this week during the association’s annual general assembly in Mozambique.

The assembly heard that penetration of the African market by foreign carriers was the greatest challenge facing the continent carriers.

"Currently, mega carriers transport over 70 per cent of intercontinental traffic to and from the continent and this proportion continues to increase," noted Folly-Kossi.

"A head count reveals that barely a dozen African airlines are currently fairing well."

He said Afraa member airlines need to come up with a strategy to fight fierce competition from foreign carriers.

"The biggest risk is seeing African carriers run out of business one by one with all imaginable consequences such as job losses and lack of transportation facilities to promote the African Tourism industry," he added.

Mozambique president Armando Emilio Guebuza, who officially opened the assembly, said air transport should be a catalyst for economic development in the continent and for the meeting of cultures and peoples," he noted.

He challenged African governments to co-operate to allow the continent’s carriers to operate freely in Africa.

Africa Civil Aviation Commission president Mr Charles Wako noted that opening African skies to African airlines by was the only way to fight domination by foreign carriers.

He said the full implementation of the Yamoussoukro is critical to the survival of African airlines. "Until this is done, our air transport system risks collapse."

He said the Yamoussoukro Declaration was put in place to facilitate the liberalisation of access to air transport markets in Africa and to promote and protect the air transport system.