Africa Weekly Aviation Trails: Week 47, 2024 Highlights.

Introduction.

Cairo recently hosted the 56th Annual General Assembly of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) under the patronage of Egypt’s Minister of Civil Aviation. The three-day event, held from November 17 to 19, 2024, brought together over 500 industry leaders to address the challenges and opportunities within African aviation. Attendees included representatives from international organizations, civil aviation authorities, airlines, airports, aircraft manufacturers, and suppliers. Discussions centered on improving air transport connectivity, addressing regulatory challenges, and fostering sustainable growth in Africa’s aviation sector. Looking ahead, the 57th AFRAA Annual General Assembly will take place in Angola in 2025, with TAAG-Linhas Aereas de Angola serving as the official host.

Meanwhile, in West Africa, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—established in September 2024 by the military-led governments of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso—has made significant strides in regional integration. On November 22, 2024, the bloc adopted prototypes for a unified passport and national identity card. The security ministers of the three countries approved harmonized technical specifications for these documents, marking a major step toward enhanced regional cooperation and streamlined movement of people within the Sahel States Confederation (AES) framework.

African Aviation: Projections and Statistics.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has revealed that out of the $1.662 billion in airline funds blocked from repatriation worldwide, a significant $950 million is tied up in African countries. According to IATA Director General Willie Walsh, the largest portion of these funds is concentrated in the XAF and XOF zones—the currency regions of Central and West Africa—where over $300 million remains inaccessible.