The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on African governments to place aviation at the centre of national development strategies, describing it as essential infrastructure that can unlock long-term economic and social progress across the continent.
Speaking at the Focus Africa Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Kamil Alawadhi, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, said aviation should be viewed as a catalyst for job creation, trade expansion, tourism growth, and regional integration.
He noted that a well-structured aviation strategy focused on safety, cost efficiency, energy security, sustainability, and a business-friendly regulatory environment would generate lasting economic benefits. According to him, these gains would outweigh short-term revenue considerations from taxation on passengers.
Safety improvements remain critical
While Africa has made progress in aviation safety, IATA highlighted that further improvement is needed. The region’s accident rate declined from 12.13 per million sectors in 2024 to 7.86 in 2025, yet it remains significantly above the global average of 1.32, making it the highest of any region.
IATA urged stronger implementation of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, noting that effective compliance across 46 of 48 Sub-Saharan African states stands at 60.34%, compared with the global average of 69.46% and a target of 75%.
The organisation also pointed to gaps in accident reporting, stating that only 19% of accident reports between 2019 and 2023 were completed, far below the global average of 63%. It stressed that delays or incomplete investigations limit access to safety lessons.
To address these challenges, IATA called for broader use of global safety programmes, including IOSA, ISSA, and ISAGO, to strengthen operational oversight and risk management.
High operating costs remain a barrier
IATA also raised concerns over the cost of doing business in African aviation, noting that taxes and charges imposed by governments and infrastructure providers are around 15% higher than the global average.
The association criticised rising passenger and data-related charges, including Tanzania’s API-PNR fee of $45 per one-way journey, described as the highest globally. Similar high charges were also reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya.
It further urged governments to implement the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) decision scheduled for December 2025 to eliminate aviation taxes and reduce selected charges by 25%, stressing the importance of full and timely execution.
IATA also recommended maintaining residence-based corporate taxation for airlines, warning that source-based taxation models under discussion at the United Nations could lead to double taxation due to the cross-border nature of aviation.
Regulatory barriers affecting operations
The organisation highlighted ongoing challenges in revenue repatriation, noting that airlines continue to face restrictions despite international agreements guaranteeing access to earned funds.
As of March 2026, Africa accounted for the largest share of globally blocked airline funds, totalling $774 million. The highest amounts were recorded in Algeria ($258 million), followed by the XAF Zone ($105 million), Mozambique ($82 million), Eritrea ($78 million), and Angola ($73 million).
Alawadhi stressed the need for urgent action in Algeria, saying industry engagement with authorities had so far produced limited progress, while airlines continued to comply with complex requirements.
Visa restrictions were also identified as a major obstacle, with nearly half of intra-African travel still requiring prior visas, limiting mobility, tourism growth, and regional economic integration.
Sustainability and energy opportunities
On sustainability, IATA highlighted opportunities for Africa in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production and global carbon market participation.
The organisation noted that Africa could supply up to 57.6 million Eligible Emission Units (EEUs) under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), potentially generating significant climate finance. However, only a limited number of countries, including Tanzania, Malawi, Rwanda, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Madagascar, and Nigeria, have begun participation.
In addition, IATA said Sub-Saharan Africa could produce up to 106 million tonnes of SAF-compatible feedstock by 2050, using agricultural residues, forestry waste, and municipal solid waste. With supportive policies and infrastructure investment, current renewable fuel capacity could scale significantly, creating jobs and improving energy security.
Source: ZAWYA
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