DURING the 55th AFRAA Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Entebbe, Uganda from November 19-21, Kamil Alawadhi, the Regional Vice-President for Africa and the Middle East at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), expressed enthusiasm for the enduring collaboration between IATA and AFRAA, spanning over five decades.
Alawadhi highlighted the joint efforts of IATA and AFRAA in supporting the development of air connectivity in Africa, navigating both prosperous and challenging times. He stated, ‘For 55 years, IATA and AFRAA have been partners in supporting the development of air connectivity in Africa. We have found great strength in partnership through far too many crises.’
The focus shifted to regional connectivity, with Alawadhi emphasising collaboration with governments to implement the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). He stated, ‘We are working to see the 23 countries committed to SAATM ratify the accord and encourage more countries to join.’
Addressing the issue of blocked funds, Alawadhi outlined efforts since 2018 to advise governments on best practices, resulting in the repatriation of funds from several African countries. He stressed, ‘Currently, $1.68bn in airline funds remain blocked across the continent.’
On operational safety, Alawadhi introduced the Collaborative Aviation Safety Improvement Programme (CASIP) and urged airlines to contribute to the Global Aviation Data Management (GADM) program for a comprehensive safety database.
Regarding taxes and charges, Alawadhi advocated for reasonable levels, citing high infrastructure charges in Africa. He stated, ‘User charges across the continent are 8 percent higher than the industry average,’ crediting the pan-Africa fuel campaign for successful reductions in charges in certain countries over the past five years.
Delving into sustainability, Alawadhi called for collective action to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. He emphasised expanding the supply of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and creating policies supporting cleaner energies. Alawadhi stressed the importance of supporting airlines with the necessary skillset and knowledge on SAF.
Reflecting on AFRAA’s inclusion in IATA’s Focus Africa initiative, Alawadhi expressed, ‘AFRAA is absolutely instrumental and strengthens the Focus Africa coalition,’ outlining the common vision of developing a safe, secure, and sustainable aviation industry in Africa.
In closing, Alawadhi urged increased participation by African carriers in IATA’s safety and flight operations regional groups, emphasising the need for collaboration to elevate Africa’s aviation industry. He concluded, ‘Let’s proactively work together and take Africa’s aviation industry to the next level, to reflect the potential of the African market.’