The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is calling on African governments to make aviation a priority lever for economic growth, social development, and connectivity. With an estimated contribution of $75 billion to the continent’s GDP and 8.1 million supported jobs, the African aviation sector is expanding, with an expected growth rate of 4.1% per year by 2044. “Support for aviation underpins employment, trade, and tourism,” said Somas Appavou, IATA’s regional director for Africa.
During a virtual conference dedicated to Africa on Wednesday, July 30, the international organization defined three key priorities: first, improving safety and security. Despite progress, the implementation rate of ICAO SARPs standards remains below the global average, at 59.49%. IATA urges states to bridge this gap by fully implementing safety standards and producing accident reports in a timely manner. It recommends increased use of tools such as IOSA Audit and ISSA assessment to strengthen regulatory oversight.
The second priority is reducing taxes and fees, which are 15% higher in Africa than the global average. According to IATA, excessive taxation hampers demand and hinders development. Fees should be better coordinated with industry needs to promote sustainable, profitable, and future growth-adapted infrastructure.
Finally, IATA warns against blocked funds from airlines, which amount to $1 billion in Africa, representing 73% of the global total. This situation hampers connectivity, leads airlines to reduce their operations, and violates international agreements. In addition, IATA calls for support for the global CORSIA carbon offsetting scheme and to avoid fragmented tax initiatives that could harm global sustainability efforts.
