Airline association to seek new sources of revenue

By John Oyuke

Nairobi-based African Airlines Association (AFRAA) plans to seek new revenue sources to help members cope with rising challenges.

Acting Secretary General Tewodros Tamrat said the association’s Secretariat would come up with innovative ideas in areas such as training, consultancy and the use of the training facilities at the Nairobi headquarters.

"In view of the challenges and hardships that continue to confront African member airlines, the Secretariat will need to widen its revenue sources," he said.

The outgoing Secretary General also said Afraa will need to recover bad debts and encourage airlines that have discontinued contribution and participation to reactivate their membership.

Meanwhile, after almost half a year without a substantive Secretary General, the airlines trade Organisation established in April 1968 in Accra, Ghana, has announced appointment of a new head.

Dr Elijah Chingosho will take over from Mr Tewodros Tamrat who has been Acting Secretary General since June, with effect from January 1, next year.

Chingosho is expected to steer the affairs of the airlines association and reposition the organisation as a premier continental air transport body of repute, delivering quality service to members and effectively representing their interests.

Chingosho was chosen as Secretary General of the organisation during the recently concluded 42nd Annual General Assembly of the AFRAA in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Chingosho started his aviation career in the Air Force of Zimbabwe where he rose to position of Director of Engineering before leaving to pursue other interests.

In a detailed report on the performance of Afraa airlines, Tamrat told the AFRAA’s annual assembly that traffic growth in Africa has consistently surpassed global average in the last six years.

Last year, the report said, passengers carried by AFRAA airlines grew by 4.7 per cent to 43.9 million while cargo went up 2.9 per cent.

Airlines achieved a profit of $137.0 million at a time the global airline industry was in the red to the tune of over $11.0 billion and the report was optimistic of a profitable 2010 as well.

According to the outgoing Secretary General, African airlines are already positioning themselves to take advantage of the positive business environment that is impacting on the traffic growth.

Tamrat said that African airlines are investing in new and modern aircraft, expanding alliances and also adopting information technology to drive down cost and improve revenue management.

They are also focusing more aggressively on safety and security to correct the negative safety perception of the industry in Africa.