The movement of goods and people ”intra-Africa” is key to the continent’s economic development, and aviation can do more to assist such movement than any other means of transport.
This is what Transport Minister Dullah Omar told the Ninth Aviation and Allied Business Conference in a speech read on his behalf in Sandton on Tuesday.
Omar mentioned the grim statistics of poverty, literacy and life expectancy in Africa, and said the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad) was an acknowledgement that decisive action — including improved transport and communications — was needed to cure these ills.
The shortcomings of road and rail transport in Africa were well known, Omar said, and aviation could fill the gap.
He recognised the poor financial performance of many airlines in Africa, the lack of economies of scale, high insurance costs, and ”high airport charges not matched by service provided”.
Omar also noted the deficiencies of air traffic control over parts of the continent.
Despite these problems, he was optimistic about progress in aviation. The liberalisation of the air transport market was the way to improve aviation services, Omar said. The liberalising of that market — including privatisation of some airlines and airports — as contemplated in the Yamoussoukro Declaration of 1988 and the Cape Town Protocol of November 2001 was taking effect.
Each of the five regions of Africa was drawing up its own regulations in this regard, and the Southern African Development Community in particular had prepared regulations that were now awaiting approval.
On the topic of air and noise pollution, Omar said the interest of the public in noise abatement should be balanced with the need for economic development.
There was no ”global, hegemonic view to noise”. In Europe, the sound of an aircraft approaching was merely noise, but in Africa it could be a sound of hope.
Omar said he looked forward to receiving a report containing recommendations from the conference.
The conference was attended by representatives of airline companies, aircraft manufacturers, financiers, civil aviation authorities, pilots, engineers, governments, the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States. It was arranged by the Nigerian publication ”Aviation and Allied Business Journal.” – Sapa