The International Air Transport Association Urges African governments to treat aviation as critical infrastructure for economic growth. At its Focus Africa Conference, IATA highlighted safety, cost reduction, sustainability, and regulatory reforms as key priorities to unlock jobs, boost trade, and strengthen regional integration.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on African governments to place aviation at the center of their economic strategies, emphasizing its critical role in driving long-term development, regional integration, and job creation.
Speaking at the Focus Africa Conference in Addis Ababa, Kamil Alawadhi underscored aviation’s broader economic value beyond immediate tax revenues.
“Aviation is economic infrastructure for Africa,” Alawadhi said. “An aviation strategy focused on safety, cost-competitiveness, energy sustainability, and ease of doing business will create jobs, enable trade, support tourism, and strengthen regional integration.”
IATA
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) represents and serves airlines with advocacy and global standards for safety, security, efficiency, and sustainability.
A Call for a Comprehensive Aviation Strategy
IATA outlined a four-pillar framework for African governments to unlock the full potential of aviation:
1. Improving Safety Standards
While Africa has made progress in aviation safety—with accident rates falling from 12.13 to 7.86 per million sectors between 2024 and 2025—the region still lags behind the global average of 1.32.
IATA is urging stronger implementation of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), noting that Sub-Saharan Africa’s compliance rate of 60.34% trails the global average of 69.46%.
The association also raised concerns about the low publication rate of accident reports—just 19% between 2019 and 2023—limiting opportunities to learn from incidents. Greater adoption of global safety audits such as IOSA, ISSA, and ISAGO was recommended to improve oversight and operational consistency.
2. Enhancing cost competitiveness
High operational costs remain a major barrier to aviation growth in Africa, with taxes and charges averaging about 15% higher than global levels.
IATA criticized excessive API-PNR charges, highlighting Tanzania as having the highest globally at $45 per one-way journey. Other countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya, were also cited for above-average fees.
The association urged governments to implement the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) directive to cut aviation taxes and reduce charges by 25%, warning that failure to act could hinder connectivity and economic growth.
3. Improving Ease of Doing Business
Aviation growth is also being constrained by regulatory and financial barriers.
IATA highlighted the issue of blocked airline revenues, which reached $774 million across Africa as of March 2026. Algeria accounts for the largest share at $258 million, followed by countries in the XAF zone, Mozambique, Eritrea, and Angola.
Alawadhi called for urgent action, particularly in Algeria, to ensure airlines can repatriate revenues in line with international agreements.
Visa restrictions were also flagged as a major obstacle. Nearly half of intra-African travel still requires pre-departure visas, limiting mobility and suppressing tourism and trade. IATA noted that countries easing visa requirements have seen improved connectivity and stronger tourism flows.
4. Advancing Sustainability and Energy Security
IATA emphasizes Africa’s significant potential in sustainable aviation, particularly in the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
Under the global carbon offsetting scheme CORSIA, Africa could supply up to 57.6 million Eligible Emission Units (EEUs), creating a new source of climate finance. However, only a handful of countries—including Rwanda and Madagascar—have taken initial steps to participate.
The continent also has the capacity to produce up to 106 million tonnes of SAF feedstock annually by 2050, leveraging agricultural and municipal waste. With the right policy incentives and infrastructure investments, IATA believes Africa could significantly boost energy security while creating jobs.
Aviation as a Catalyst for Development
IATA’s message is clear: aviation is not merely a transport sector but a foundational pillar for Africa’s economic future. By addressing safety gaps, reducing costs, easing regulatory barriers, and investing in sustainability, African nations could unlock widespread prosperity.
“Aviation’s long-term benefits far outweigh short-term tax gains,” Alawadhi concluded. “The opportunity for Africa is immense—if governments act decisively.”
