Africa Weekly Aviation Trails: Week 22, 2024 Highlights.

he previous week was marked by several positive developments.  Nigeria cleared a significant portion of airline blocked funds, injecting a financial boost into the industry.  Demand continued its ascent, with both passenger and cargo traffic experiencing an upward trend.  Pratt & Whitney made history by breaking ground for aircraft component manufacturing in Africa, while airlines like Qatar and Ethiopian Airways expanded their networks with exciting new routes.  Read on to explore these highlights and learn more about the factors shaping the African aviation sector.

Introduction.

Great news of the week! According to International Air Transport Association (IATA) the amount of airline blocked ticket sales funds by governments has seen a significant decrease of 28%. As of April, the total stands at approximately $1.8 billion, a reduction of $708 million since December 2023. This positive change is largely attributed to the efforts of the Nigerian government. At its peak, the amount of blocked airline funds in Nigeria totaled $850 million, severely impacting the country’s aviation sector and causing some airlines to reduce or even suspend operations altogether. However, Nigeria has now cleared 98% of these blocked funds, with the remaining $19 million withheld due to the central bank’s ongoing verification of outstanding forward claims filed by commercial banks.

Currently, eight countries are responsible for 87% (about $1.6 billion) of the blocked funds. These countries are Pakistan ($411 million), Bangladesh ($320 million), Algeria ($286 million), XAF Zone ($151 million), Ethiopia ($149 million), Lebanon ($129 million), Eritrea ($75 million), and Zimbabwe ($69 million).

In other news, ICAO AVSEC FAL announced earlier this week the release of The Disposal of Screening Equipment Guidance Material in collaboration with International Civil Aviation Organization. This concise but crucial document, endorsed during the thirty-fifth meeting of the AVSEC Panel 4, is fundamental to aviation security, enabling the efficient detection of prohibited items and weapons in high-traffic environments.