Africa Weekly Aviation Trails: Week 48, 2024 Highlights.

Introduction.

The African Civil Aviation Commission AFCAC convened its 35th Ordinary Plenary Session and held the 25th celebration of the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD), in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, from September 25 to 29, 2024. This key event brought together high-profile participants, including the International Civil Aviation Organization Secretary-General, leaders of African civil aviation authorities, and international partners. Discussions focused on critical aviation issues in Africa, progress on AFCAC’s initiatives, and challenges faced across various domains. A pivotal moment was the election of the new AFCAC Bureau and the formulation of Africa’s strategic position for the 42nd ICAO Assembly, scheduled for 2025 in Montreal, Canada. This assembly aims to align Africa’s aviation strategies with global trends, emphasizing regional growth and international cooperation.

Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) achieved a significant environmental milestone by securing Level 3 certification in the ACI World – Airports Council International‘s Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) Programme for four major airports: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Moi International Airport (MIA), Eldoret International Airport (EIA), and Kisumu International Airport (KIA). The certification highlights KAA’s dedication to reducing its carbon footprint through optimization and stakeholder engagement. With a vision to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 and Net-Zero emissions by 2050, KAA continues to demonstrate leadership in sustainable aviation practices, setting a benchmark for airports across Africa.

African Aviation: Projections and Statistics.

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the African Union have unveiled the latest Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI), highlighting the state of regional integration through visa policies. The report reveals that only 28% of intra-African travel is visa-free, with 25% equiring visas on arrival. Alarmingly, a substantial 47% of travelers must secure visas via e-visa systems or embassy applications. Encouragingly, the adoption of e-visas has surged, with 26 African countries now offering them, up from fewer than 10 a few years ago. Leading the way in visa liberalization, Benin, Seychelles, Gambia, and Rwanda allow visa-free access to all African nationals, setting benchmarks for fostering intra-African connectivity.