Air travel still inconvenient, costly in Africa – AfDB boss

The African Development Bank has disclosed that air travelling in Africa remains inconvenient and one of the most expensive in the world.
The Vice-President, Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialisation, AfDB, Mr. Pierre Guislain, observed that a two and half hour flight from the capital city of Malawi, Lilongwe and the commercial capital of South Africa, Johannesburg, cost three times more than a similar flight from Rome, Italy to London, Britain.
He said, “The private sector financing and investment is critical and would canvass a level playing field where there is an open and reliable access, as well as private airlines competing with state-owned operators.
“Liberalisation of the aviation industry can spur regional integration and trade by bridging the 54 fragmented African markets. Identifying more open visa policies is another way to stimulate integration and foster regional passenger traffic.”
According to him, the continent’s aviation industry is hampered by high costs and sustained growth of the sector would require a tough look at ways to cut costs related to high taxes, fees, charges and airport levies.
He disclosed that the bank was partnering with the Nigerian Government, the African Union Commission, and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development to develop the sector.
Guislain emphasised the critical role aviation could play to boost economic growth by integrating the continent’s fragmented
markets.
He added, “In the past 10 years, AfDB has provided about $1billion to the African aviation sector. We have invested in airport construction or expansion in Morocco, Tunisia, Cape Verde, Ghana or Kenya, and in the improvement of air safety and navigation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and West and Central Africa.”
“We have also provided financing for aircraft acquisition by Ethiopian Airlines and Air Cote
d’Ivoire.”
He argued that despite Africa’s fragmentation with major economic centres geographically far from each other, the low level of connectivity and absence of significant airline hubs remained a real challenge for business people and ordinary Africans.