IATA Urges African Governments to Prioritise Aviation for Growth | By Dominick Andoh
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on African governments to place aviation at the centre of their economic development strategies, warning that the sector remains underutilised despite its potential to drive trade, tourism and regional integration.
Speaking at the IATA Focus Africa Conference in Addis Ababa, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Alawadhi, described aviation as “economic infrastructure for Africa,” stressing that long-term benefits outweigh short-term revenue gains from taxation.
The association outlined key priorities, including improving safety standards, reducing the high cost of doing business, easing regulatory barriers, and strengthening sustainability efforts. While safety performance has improved, Africa’s accident rate remains the highest globally at 7.86 per million sectors, compared to the global average of 1.32.
IATA also highlighted the high cost environment facing airlines in Africa, noting that taxes and charges are approximately 15% above global averages. It urged governments to implement agreed regional measures, including the ECOWAS decision to reduce aviation charges, and to avoid policies that distort ticket pricing.
On ease of doing business, IATA raised concerns over $774 million in blocked airline funds across the continent, with countries such as Algeria, Mozambique and Angola among those affected. It warned that failure to address these issues could negatively impact connectivity.
Visa restrictions were also cited as a major barrier, with nearly half of intra-African travel still requiring pre-departure visas, limiting mobility and economic integration.
Looking ahead, IATA pointed to opportunities in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production, noting Africa’s potential to become a major supplier through agricultural and waste-based feedstocks.
The association said coordinated action across these areas would strengthen Africa’s aviation sector, enabling it to support economic growth, job creation and improved regional connectivity.
IATA Urges African Governments to Prioritise Aviation for Growth | AviationGhana.info@gmail.com
