By Ahmed Idris
The African Union (AU) on Monday sealed a deal to operate Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) in order to enhance connectivity and ensure cheaper flights in the continent.
The initiate was launched by the chairperson of the African Union, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, and the chairperson of AU Commission, Moussa Faki, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at the close of the 30th AU Summit.
The aim is at create a unified air transport market in Africa, liberalise civil aviation and engender the economic integration in the continent.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Kagame said expressed delight over the actualisation of the single air transport market for the continent.
“I want to say a big thank you for the work the Commission has put into this, to be able to form a single air transport market which is very important for the development of our continent in line with our many projects that will take us to our wishes for the year 2063.
“I am glad that we can achieve some of these now or tomorrow, especially this particular project. I am happy for associating myself with the progress that we have made so far,” he said.
He said President Faure Gnassingbe of Togo would lead the continent in realising the full implementation of market on behalf of AU member countries.
Research by the International Civil Aviation Organisation shows that Africa accounts for about 15 per cent of the world’s population and three per cent of the world’s air travelers.
