The Airline Association of Southern Africa (AASA) has warned that without urgent and coordinated government interventions, a commercially viable, economic, and environmentally sustainable southern African air transport industry will remain unattainable.
Urgent actions Aasa has identified include:
• The removal of barriers to trade and market access with the full implementation of the Single Africa Air Transport Market (SAATM) to support the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.
• Financial relief for airlines by way of reducing or scrapping some taxes and statutory charges, fees and levies on air travel.
• Standardising currently inconsistent Covid-19 travel and test requirements and reducing the costs of compliance which together are deterring intra-Africa and inter-continental travel.
• The appointment of South Africa’s international and domestic air services licencing councils – which have been without councillors since April. Without these functioning bodies, South African carriers cannot apply to open new routes, promote economic activity or create more jobs. And yet foreign airlines are increasing their operations to the country – an own goal.
• Proper planning with clear timelines and funding models for the transition to sustainable fuels in the region so that airlines can meet their 2050 net-zero emissions targets.
• Finding ways to incorporate the progress made with the Carbon Tax initiatives in some countries whilst harmonising participation in the global carbon offsetting programme under the auspices of the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organisation (Corsia).
• Standardising charges for foreign operator permits, aircraft operating permits as well as removing the double-taxation on airlines and aircraft components by all African governments.
• Aligning legislation to adopt the 2001 Cape Town Convention on the ownership of moveable assets, which would immediately realise millions of dollars in savings for airlines (and other operators of mobile equipment) in the region.