Browsing: IATA Operational Safety Audit

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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Emerging trends in Air Travel industry 

Aviation
Hardly any industry is unscorched by the COVID-19 menace that has forced businesses to close down while others are surviving on tight budgets. The sector to be first affected and that is still dealing with major blows is the travel industry. 

A month after the worldwide lockdown, border closure and major travel restrictions within and between countries resulted in over 90 per cent decrease in the number of air passengers. Land and water transportation also experienced cancellations as people were cautious of crowded places. 

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) analysis global passenger demand fell by 14.1 per cent in February 2020 resulting from the effects of the corona virus on Asia-Pacific markets. 

“Airlines were hit by a sledgehammer called COVID-19 in February,” IATA’s Director General and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac said in an article by International Airport Review. “Borders were closed in an effort to stop the

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