Africa: Open Skies Delays Keep Africa's Trade Costs High

What the report says

African governments and aviation industry leaders are urging quicker adoption of open-skies policies as they argue that fragmented air transport markets are keeping business travel and cargo costs high across the continent. The discussion was reported in Nairobi by Capital FM and distributed by AllAfrica, ahead of the Africa Mindset Reset Forum scheduled for August 25-26 in Kigali.

At a high-level working session, participants said Africa already has much of the legal basis needed to liberalize air travel, but implementation, financing and political commitment remain weak. The talks centered on the Yamoussoukro Decision, which aims to open African air transport markets through broader traffic rights. Rwanda’s trade and industry minister, Antoine Kajangwe, said stronger connectivity is important for firms that need to move goods across African markets. AfCFTA Secretariat representative Tsotetsi Makong said continental agreements must be translated into domestic action.

Industry speakers highlighted financial and operational barriers. Raphael Kuuchi of the African Airlines Association said hundreds of millions of dollars in airline revenues are reportedly blocked in several African countries, limiting airlines’ ability to reinvest and maintain routes. The African Development Bank’s Lufeyo Banda said open skies would also require fleet upgrades, stronger institutions and better connectivity, not just policy changes.

The report said the African Civil Aviation Commission estimates the continent’s aviation connectivity remains low, and that fees and taxes can make intra-African flights expensive. Participants also discussed a possible visa-free or visa-on-arrival “Africa Zone” to support tourism and business mobility. The broader significance is that delayed liberalization could slow the African Continental Free Trade Area’s promise of easier movement of people, goods and services.