A high level meeting of policy-makers and chief executives representing various African airlines has agreed to develop comprehensive competition rules to speed up the liberalisation of Africa’s skies.

The agreement came at the end of a two-day meeting held in Tunis from 29 – 30 May, organized by the AU Commission, in collaboration with ECA, the ADB and the African Airlines Association (AFRAA).

Participants agreed to establish an Executive Agency to harmonize the rules of competition across the continent and speed up implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision aimed at liberalizing air transport in Africa. They also called on African countries to adopt a common strategy for negotiating open skies agreements with the European Union.

In his address to the meeting, ECA’s Executive Secretary, USG Abdoulie Janneh, commended airlines for the important role they play in Africa’s economic and physical integration by linking the continent internationally. He urged participants to establish innovative ways of increasing funding to the sector in order to improve airline fleets, boost accessibility and introduce a liberalized operating environment.

Related links:

• Strategies for the Development of the Airline Transport Industry in Africa, Statement by Abdoulie Janneh, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECA
• African Air Transport Development Strategy - Plan of Action
• Final Communique
• Statement by the President of the African Union Commission, Professor Alpha Oumar Konare (in French)