Issue 11 | ...Celebrating the world’s richest continent | http://www.nomadafricamag.com | 65than a million passengers and purchased
41 new aircraft from Airbus for $3.5 billion
- the largest jetliner acquisition Africa had
seen. During this period, South Africa was
reinstated as a member of the Interna-
tional Civil Aviation Organisation and the
global Star Alliance for worldwide air
travel.
Recent aviation developments
across the continent
Despite infrastructure challenges, the ma-
jority of airports, aircraft and technology
are being upgraded in Africa in order to
accommodate the growing demand.
Senegal’s brand new international airport
opened in 2017 as the country aims to po-
sition itself as a 21st Century regional air
hub. Other major airports undergoing up-
grades include Cape Town international
airport, which is constructing new run-
ways at a cost of over R3,2 billion and a
R100 million international departure
lounge and boarding gates. In 2014, An-
gola spent $2.1 billion on airport construc-
tion, while Nigeria airport upgrades cost
in the region of $1.07 billion and Cairo
$18.5 billion. IATA’s Vice President for
Africa, Raphael Kuuchi, believes that it will
be vital to address connectivity issues for
further growth. “Increased intra-African
air connectivity is essential, if Africa is to
seize the opportunities for growth prom -
ised by its demographic and resources
advantages.
“It is absurd that it is possible to travel
thirteen times a week from Nairobi to
London, yet impossible to travel directly
from Nairobi to Dakar. A potential five
million passengers a year are being de-
nied the opportunity to travel, trade and
spread economic and social develop-ment,” Kuuchi says.
Nigeria’s national carrier has had a dismal
history; however, Aviation Minister, Hadi
Sirika is in process of reviving the airline,
assuring sceptics that the project is a pri-
ority on the national agenda. The presi-
dent of travel specialist Sabre West Africa,
Gbenga Olowo, proposed that the gov-
ernment should merge the remaining
local airlines into three main carriers to be
able to compete in the international mar-
ket.
The cost of jet fuel will continue to rise as
the Dollar strengthens against many
African currencies and many airlines are
now investigating using bio-fuel, which isIn South Africa alone, airlines including
1Time; Nationwide Airlines; Velvet Sky and
Skywise Airlines have all ceased operations
in recent years.