Browsing: air travel in EAC

Flight prices in Africa are under debt, stakeholders want airlines operating within the continent to lower fares. Photo/CapitalNews

African countries open to cheaper flights to boost domestic travel  

Industry and Trade
  • EAC Partner States need to fast-track implementation regulations on the liberalisation of air transport
  • An extra 155,000 jobs and US$1.3 billion in annual GDP would be created if 12 countries opened their skies.
  • Africa has formed the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) to spearhead a single unified air transport market to advance the liberalization of civil aviation in Africa.

In the spirit of creating a single market and increased integration of Africa’s 54 nations, stakeholders want airlines operating within the continent to lower fares.

Recent research by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) showed that ‘if just 12 key Africa countries opened their markets and increased connectivity, an extra 155,000 jobs and US$1.3 billion in annual GDP would be created in those countries.’

These are significant figures by any measure and IATA, the trade association for the world's airlines, representing some 260 members, maintains that lowering flight prices in…

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An expert in the tourism industry has urged EAC countries to liberalise their airspaces and open up skies to promote tourism.

EAC states urged to open skies to promote tourism

Business
  • An expert in the tourism industry has urged countries in the East African Community (EAC) to liberalise their airspaces and open up skies to promote the tourism industry in the region
  • East African Tourism Platform Chair Fred Odek said the existing restrictive pacts, such as the Bilateral Air Service Agreements, were disrupting the harmonisation of air transport services 
  • Odek called upon the partner states to complete the EAC regulations to facilitate the liberalisation of air travel in the region

Countries in the East African Community (EAC) should liberalise their airspaces and open up skies to promote the tourism industry in the region.

Fred Odek, the Chairperson of the East African Tourism Platform (EATF), said the existing restrictive pacts, such as the Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASAs), were disrupting the harmonisation of air transport services.

Odek called upon the partner states to complete the EAC regulations to facilitate the liberalisation of …