With this year’s Connect route development forum being hosted in Tangier, it was only fitting that one of the first sessions of the conference was dedicated to African airports and airlines.
Representatives from two West African airports (Conakry and Dakar) alongside Binter Airlines, the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) and Nice Airport Management (NAMA) took to the stage to discuss powering the development of the African market.
Aberdahmane Berthe, Secretary General of the African Airlines Association underlined that while that many countries have seen a strong rebound in air traffic following COVID, weak infrastructure, high taxes, the lack of intra-African connectivity and fifth freedom movements, as well as the need to fully implement the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) across the continent remain barriers to growth for Africa’s aviation sector. Reducing taxes and charges are integral to the SAATM roadmap, he said.
Namory Camara, Managing Director, Ahmed Sekou Toure International Airport added that “wider government support is key to aviation’s growth” as is “safety and the quality of the whole aviation environment.”
Diversifying non-aeronautical revenue opportunities was also raised as being key to growth for airports, not just in Africa but elsewhere around the world to help future proof airports should another crisis arise that impacts air travel. “It’s vital we develop non-passenger revenue streams and airports across Africa are working on improving these opportunities – we need to create new possibilities and new offers for our passengers,” said Askin Demir, CEO Dakar Blaise Diagne International Airport. “Airports across the continent are upping their game when it comes to the customer experience and adopting a more sustainable future. They are working hard to be on the same level as their counterparts elsewhere in the world.
Looking at how successful the private-public partnership model has proved for various airports across Africa, including Conakry, Camara concluded: “The PPP model is key to the expansion and modernisation of African airports. If we’re going to look to foreign investment, airports also need to ensure they have a solid investment plan and the airport and investor need to be aligned on that.”
