/ 25 March 1999

COMESA TO UPGRADE AIR TRAVEL

THE Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) is working on a programme aimed at removing restrictions on air transport which make it difficult to develop the industry in the region. Comesa Secretary General Erastus Mwencha said on Thursday that by October this year, Comesa should be able to link by air all the capitals in the region once the restrictions have been removed and air transport has been liberalised. He cited restrictions on frequency and equipment as some of the factors that have discouraged investors, resulting in regional air transport remaining from being fully developed.