Africa Weekly Aviation Trails: Week 52, 2024 Highlights.

Introduction.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced a major update to its IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) program. Starting in 2025, IOSA renewal audits will adopt a risk-based methodology, shifting to more tailored and focused evaluations of airlines’ operational safety. This approach aims to enhance safety oversight by addressing specific risks unique to each airline.

African Aviation: Projections and Statistics.

A study titled ‘Environmental Consciousness and Air Travel Behaviour: Perspectives from Domestic Air Travellers in South Africa‘ examined environmental awareness and its influence on airline choice among South African air travelers. The findings showed that while all 394 participants agreed on the need for airlines to reduce their environmental impact, nearly 42% opposed paying green fees introduced by airlines. Only 31.5% supported additional charges to offset carbon emissions, while 23.6% were indifferent. This underscores a significant divide in public perception, with many travelers believing the financial responsibility for climate mitigation should lie with the airline industry rather than passengers.

Morocco’s aviation manufacturing sector experienced unprecedented growth in 2024, with exports surging by 17.3% to MAD 21.86 billion ($2.1 billion) in just the first ten months, surpassing last year’s record of MAD 21.85 billion. Over the past two decades, Morocco has emerged as Africa’s leader in aviation equipment manufacturing and now ranks fifth globally among the most dynamic aviation nations. The sector employs 21,000 highly skilled workers across 142 companies and boasts a local integration rate exceeding 40%, reflecting Morocco’s commitment to becoming a global hub for the aviation industry.