Experts cautiously optimistic about increased intra-Africa air connectivity

Intra-Africa air connectivity is making headway, a recent ‘Charting Trends’ report published by the Centre for Aviation (CAPA) has shown, and was also echoed by local aviation experts who have expressed cautious optimism about the growth prospects for the southern African region.
While the intra-Africa air connectivity had exceeded the two million weekly internal seats figure for the week commencing 18 December, according to the CAPA’s ‘Charting Trends’ report, aviation experts have stressed that several barriers to improved air access still need to be addressed. This is the sixth time that this landmark figure has been achieved. “December is a peak travel month in the intra-Africa calendar [so] it may be premature to start looking ahead to the end of 2024, but there is potential for 2024 to break the record for intra-Africa connectivity,” the report stated.
It is encouraging to see the two million weekly seats milestone, Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) CEO, Aaron Munetsi, said, adding that the AASA would continue to advocate for increases in the intra-Africa market, which will result in the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) by all African countries. Munetsi also pointed out that AASA’s responsibility to increase intra-Africa travel included but was not limited to the opening up of borders by the removal of visa requirements for Africans, implementing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, and the SAATM – all three of which are African Union flagship projects for the Agenda 2063.