High Airfares in Africa: IATA urges action on three issues | By Patrick Acheampong | The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged African governments to prioritise aviation as a driver of economic growth, employment, connectivity, and social development by improving safety, lowering costs, and resolving the issue of blocked airline funds.
According to IATA, implementing global standards is the key to world-class safety. While African safety has improved, the continent’s safety rate lags the global average in implementing ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS).
On average, the effective implementation rate for ICAO SARPS is 59.49% across 46 of 48 Sub-Saharan African states, behind the global average of 69.16% and the global target of 75%. States must take action to close this longstanding gap.
In 2024, runway excursions were the most prevalent among Africa’s 10 reported accidents. IATA, in a statement copied to AviationGhana, called for a renewed effort of ICAO’s Runway Safety Team missions at airports to improve performance in this area, including by ensuring the effective implementation of ICAO SARPS.
IATA also called for African states to abide by the ICAO Annex 13 global standard to deliver timely accident reports. Of the 42 accidents occurring in Africa between 2018 and 2023, only eight have seen the publication of a final report.
The IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and the IATA Standard Safety Assessment (ISSA) are tools to strengthen airline safety performance, support effective regulatory oversight, and promote a consistent, risk-based approach to operational safety.
Reduce taxes and charges
Taxes and charges on air travel in Africa are 15% higher than the global average. IATA, therefore, said, “It is critical that governments understand that the greatest value that aviation brings to an economy is catalytic. Transporting travellers and goods stimulates job creation. Destroying demand with excessive taxation puts a brake on economic and social development.
Coordination between industry and government is essential where charges are used to fund critical aviation infrastructure. The aim must be to build growth-supporting infrastructure that is cost-efficient and scalable.”
Eliminating Blocked Funds
IATA warned that airlines cannot operate in a market if they cannot repatriate revenues generated, which are guaranteed in international treaties and bilateral agreements. The US$1 billion of airline revenues being blocked from repatriation by Africangovernments as of May 2025, 73% of total global blocked funds, impede maintaining Africa’s international connectivity. Blocked funds are spread across 26 African countries.
Airlines facing blocked funds often reduce flight frequencies or suspend routes. To facilitate aviation’s economic and social benefits, IATA urged governments to live up to their international obligation and remove all barriers to airline revenue repatriation.
“These challenges are not new but solving them is urgent. That’s why IATA launched the Focus Africa initiative in 2023, working hand-in-hand with governments, industry, and development partners to deliver real improvements in safety, affordability, and connectivity. Aviation is not a luxury. It is an economic and social lifeline. Focus Africa is about turning potential into jobs, growth and prosperity,” Somas Appavou, IATA’s Regional Director External Affairs, Africa said.
High Airfares in Africa: IATA urges action on three issues | AviationGhana
