Kigali: COMESA faces air transport challenges related to African situation

Long air transport journey challenges that COMESA state members face are closely linked to the whole situation that rest of African states encounter in general.

Experts gathered at Kigali in a consultative meeting about the current challenges that Africa faces in regard to air transport came up with a clarification on root causes such as anarchy and lack of competitiveness.

This international meeting will assess legal frameworks that can help in reshaping the above mentioned structures to make the sector more professional.

Rwanda was chosen to be the leading country in reshaping these legal frameworks.

The core issue the meeting will be pertaining on how the African countries can harmonize laws to make the air transport more efficient and professional through what is labeled as the Air Space Integration Project.

This new framework was agreed upon during the  Djibouti Summit held in  2006.

The Rwandan State Minister in charge of transport Dr Alex Nzahabwanimana who spoke in behalf of the Minister of transport focused on the usefulness of working closely in elaborating and harmonizing laws legislating air transport between African countries.

Through what he called ‘Liberalization of Air Transport’, Minister Nzahabwanimana urged for  an establishment of solid and clear laws to help all concerned nations carry their air transport exchanges legally and professionally as well.

Harmonizing air transport legal framework hinders individual nations from carrying out its air transport exchanges in a disorganized way.

A report released in 2015 by the International Air Transport Association, (IATA) revealed that various air transport organizations faced bankrupts due to financial mismanagement and unfriendly air exchanges between African nations.

According to the predictions, Africa will experience a bankrupt equal to 100 $ due to same challenges as highlighted above.

Another issue that challenges air transport in Africa is the fact that air tickets are very expensive.

The agenda highlights that the final decisions on this consultative meeting will finalize its activities on 2017.

UM– USEKE.RW