Introduction.

The African Civil Aviation Commission AFCAC recently held its SAATM-PIP Coalition Airshow for the Banjul Accord Group (BAG) in the Republic of Sierra Leone. This event was a significant step towards advancing the full implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision/SAATM among BAG member states. The airshow aimed to fast-track the adoption of the Multilateral Air Services Agreement (MASA), signed by member states in 2004, and to promote the harmonization of air transport policies and procedures, fostering the sustainable development of international civil aviation.

In a notable development, the Republic of Equatorial Guinea has become the 100th International Civil Aviation Organization member state to deposit instruments of ratification for the protocol relating to amendments to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Articles 50(a) and 56).

Additionally, Airports Council International – ACI Africa, hosted by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), offered an on-site training session on environmental management systems. This training, adhering to the principles of ISO 14001, aims to equip participants with the necessary skills to implement effective environmental management systems (EMS) at their respective airports.

African Aviation: Projections and Statistics.

According to International Air Transport Association (IATA), June 2024 witnessed a significant rise in overall air passenger demand, which was 9.1% higher than in June 2023. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), increased by 8.5% year-on-year. The load factor for June was 85.0%, a 0.5 percentage point improvement compared to the same month last year. Notably, African airlines experienced a remarkable 16.9% year-on-year increase in demand, with capacity up by 5.8%. The load factor for African airlines climbed to 77.0%, a substantial 7.4 percentage point increase, marking the highest improvement among all regions.

In terms of air cargo, total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs), rose by 14.1% compared to June 2023, with international operations seeing a 15.6% increase. This marks the seventh consecutive month of double-digit year-on-year growth. Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTKs), increased by 8.8% compared to June 2023, with international operations up by 10.8%. Total half-year (H1) demand increased by 13.4% compared to H1 2023, by 4.3% compared to H1 2022, and by 0.02% compared to H1 2021. African airlines saw an 11.8% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in June, with demand on the Africa–Asia market surging by 37.5%, the strongest performance of all trade lanes. June capacity for African airlines increased by 23.8% year-on-year.

Exclusive research released in July, conducted for Henley & Partners – The Firm of Global Citizens® at the School of Transnational Governance at the European University Institute and The Johns Hopkins University, highlights the significant challenges Africans face regarding passport power, visa rejection rates, and economic mobility. The study shows that around 30% of African Schengen visa applicants were rejected, compared to 10% globally, despite Africa having the lowest number of visa applications per capita. The poorer the African country of origin, the higher the rejection rate for its nationals. In 2022, seven of the top ten countries with the highest Schengen visa rejection rates were African: Algeria (45.8%), Guinea-Bissau (45.2%), Nigeria (45.1%), Ghana (43.6%), Senegal (41.6%), Guinea (40.6%), and Mali (39.9%). By contrast, only 4% of applicants from the US, Canada, or the UK were rejected, with Russia having a 10% rejection rate. Algerians face a rejection rate ten times greater than those applying in Canada, while Ghanaians are four times more likely to be rejected than Russians. Nigerians face almost three times the rejection rate of Turkish applicants (15.5%) and twice that of Iranians (23.7%).

Ethiopian Airlines reported impressive financial and traffic performance for the 2023/2024 financial year. The airline achieved revenues of USD 7.02 billion, transporting 17.1 million passengers and uplifting 754,681 tonnes of cargo. Ethiopian Airlines ended the financial year with a fleet of over 145 active aircraft, with an average fleet age of seven years, and an additional 100+ aircraft on order. During 2023/2024, the airline added five new passenger destinations, bringing the total to 139 international destinations, and expanded its domestic network with three new routes, totaling 23 domestic airports.

Air Service Agreements (ASA’s) and Airline Agreements/Partnerships.

The Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority has signed an additional aeronautical agreement with its counterpart from India. These new amendments to the BASA document will allow Ethiopian Airlines to increase its flights to 35 times a week, expanding opportunities in India. This agreement also accommodates Indian carriers interested in flying to Ethiopia, fostering greater connectivity between the two nations.

In another notable development, Ethiopian Airlines has partnered with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on a precheck program. This initiative will enhance the air travel experience for the airline’s customers departing from the USA by providing a more seamless, secure, and comfortable security screening process.

Kenya Airways has entered into a strategic partnership with Safaricom PLC, aiming to enhance connectivity and drive innovation. This collaboration focuses on improving in-flight WiFi, infrastructure inspection, security surveillance, loyalty programs, data science, and more. The goal is to boost the airline’s operational efficiency, strengthen cybersecurity, and elevate the overall customer experience.

Additionally, ICAO Eastern and Southern African Regional Office recently concluded a two-day high-level mission to Burundi. This mission provided crucial assistance with ICAO SARPS, which are essential for ensuring the safety, security, and efficiency of international civil aviation in the country.

Routes and Airline Connectivity.

Turkish low-cost carrier AJet, a subsidiary of Turkish Airlines, made its inaugural flight to Cairo International Airport in Egypt on Friday, departing from ISG – Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport in Turkey. The airline will now operate five weekly flights between these two airports. Additionally, starting in October, Ajet will add five more flights to Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh, increasing the total number of weekly flights to Egyptian cities to 15.

Yemenia Airways resumed commercial flights from Sanaa to Egypt on Tuesday, July 30. The daily return flights to Cairo mark a significant milestone, as Sana’a International Airport has been largely closed to civilian traffic since 2016 due to the ongoing conflict in the country.

On July 29, 2024, Air Zimbabwe reconnected the Harare-Johannesburg route, with flights operating between Harare’s Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (HRE) and Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. The return fare has been set at US$180.

AFRIQIYAH AIRWAYS has restored flight connectivity between Sabha International Airport in Libya and Egypt’s Borg El Arab Airport in Alexandria.

Beginning December 8, 2024, Royal Air Maroc (RAM) will launch a new direct flight connecting Casablanca to Toronto, Canada. The route will be operated three times a week—on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays—utilizing a B787 Dreamliner.

Starting November 1, 2024, South African Airways (SAA) will launch a new service offering daily flights from OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) to Lubumbashi International Airport (FBM) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In a significant development, the Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority has issued a NOTAM opening the eastern route to air traffic through the regional office of the International Civil Aviation Organization in Cairo, Egypt, effective July 31, 2024. This comes more than 15 months after the decision to completely close Sudanese airspace was issued on the morning of the outbreak of war on April 15, 2023. The new safe air path will provide a short corridor for flights coming from Europe to East African countries and the Indian Ocean islands.

Airline Fleets and ACMI’s.

South Africa’s FlySafair has expanded its fleet by acquiring a 12-year-old Boeing 737-800 from Tokyo Century, bringing its total number of B737-800 aircraft to 30. This addition enhances FlySafair’s capacity and solidifies its position as a key player in the region’s aviation market.

SERVE AIR Cargo, a private cargo carrier based in Kinshasa, DRC, has taken delivery of a B737-800SF aircraft. The aircraft, arriving from Dothan, Alabama, USA, will bolster Serve Air Cargo’s ability to meet the growing demand for air freight services in and out of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Libyan Express has also expanded its fleet with the acquisition of a 16-year-old ATR 42-500 aircraft, previously operated by SW Business Aviation. This new addition will support Libyan Express in enhancing its regional connectivity and service reliability.

Aviation Infrastructure and Financing.

NavPass has successfully installed a solar-powered Very High Frequency (VHF) site in Wau, South Sudan, ensuring self-sustainability and continuous operation. This eco-friendly initiative supports the site’s power needs, including its transmitter and living quarters, with a 300 nautical mile range.

AirKenya Express Limited has unveiled a new arrivals terminal at Wilson Airport in Kenya. The updated facility features improved baggage retrieval, enhanced security, and other amenities designed to enhance the experience for the airline’s air safari clients.

The Egyptian government plans to significantly expand its airport capacity, targeting 72.2 million passengers annually by the end of 2025, up from 66.27 million in December 2023. The long-term goal is to reach 109.20 million passengers per year by 2030.

In Senegal, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Land and Air Transport has announced that ASECNA has taken over management of Ousmane-Masseck-Ndiaye International Airport in Saint-Louis. This transition was formalized during the 73rd ASECNA Committee of Ministers meeting on July 26, 2024, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

InfoVerge Solutions Pty Ltd has challenged a 380 million rand (US $20.8 million) airport biometrics contract awarded to former partner IDEMIA in August 2023. The contract, which involves three phases and covers six South African airports, is under review by the Pretoria High Court, with Infoverge seeking annulment.

The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) has strongly opposed Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s recent proposal to privatize South African Airways (SAA) as a solution to the airline’s ongoing issues. SAFTU criticizes the government’s ability to financially sustain the airline, especially after previous attempts, including a failed sale of a 51% stake to the Takatso Consortium.

Appointments

Aerospace giant Boeing has appointed Robert K. Ortberg as its new president and CEO. Ortberg succeeds David Calhoun, who announced his resignation earlier this year but will continue to serve as a senior advisor to the Boeing Board of Directors until his retirement on March 1, 2025. Ortberg will be tasked with steering the company through multiple challenges, including addressing criticism over mechanical malfunctions and concerns about quality control at Boeing.

In Burkina Faso, Emile Zerbo has been appointed as the Minister of Administration and Mobility, following a cabinet reshuffle. This ministry, formerly known as the Ministry of Transport, Urban Mobility, and Road Safety, oversees the civil aviation sector in the country.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Minister of Portfolio has overturned a decision by the board of Congo Airways to remove its CEO, Jose Lueya Dubier, declaring the decision “null and void.”

In a leadership shakeup at Air Sénégal S.A, Alioune Badara Fall has been dismissed as CEO and replaced by Tidiane Ndiaye, who becomes the airline’s fifth CEO in seven years. The board meeting on August 1, 2024, did not provide an official reason for the dismissal.

Aviation Accidents/Incidents

Air Canada flight AC73, scheduled to depart from Mohammed V International Airport to Montreal, Canada, on July 26, 2024, was canceled following a disruptive incident involving a flight attendant. The altercation began when a passenger requested a blanket due to excessive air conditioning. The situation escalated, prompting the flight attendant to call local police to remove the passenger. In solidarity with the disembarked passenger, several other travelers decided to leave the aircraft, leading Air Canada to cancel the flight.

In Algeria, a tassili airlines DHC-8 experienced a burst tire during takeoff from Illizi. Debris from the tire struck the number two propeller, causing one of the blade tips to separate and hit a passenger window. Engine vibrations forced the crew to shut down the engine, and the aircraft circled the airport for an emergency landing. The plane landed safely and came to a full stop on the runway.

A Bell 412EPI helicopter, registered as 5X-ABR (MSN 37018) and operated by Bar Aviation Uganda, was destroyed after an emergency landing at Mbarara-Nyakisharara Airstrip. The pilot performed the emergency landing after a fire reportedly broke out in the cockpit. All seven occupants sustained minor injuries.

In Nigeria, Arik Air‘s operations (in receivership) were suspended, following a directive from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). This action was taken due to ongoing litigation issues between the airline and its creditors.

In other news:

Mali’s Council of Ministers has unveiled plans to launch a state-owned airline, tentatively named Mali Airlines-SA, to serve regional routes. This initiative marks a significant step for the country, coming over a decade after the bankruptcy of its previous national carrier. The draft text for the airline’s creation has been adopted, signaling a renewed commitment to reviving Mali’s aviation sector.

On July 31, the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) issued an immediate suspension of Plettenberg Bay Airport’s Aerodrome Operating Licence, following concerns about safety. The suspension is primarily due to issues with the runway, which was deemed to pose a “significant safety risk.”

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the government has accused the Rwandan army of interfering with civilian aircraft GPS signals through “jamming” and “spoofing.” These forms of cyber-crime, which involve creating false identities or impersonation, have raised serious concerns about the safety of both commercial and humanitarian flights in the conflict-ridden eastern region of the country.

Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics Services has been recognized as a finalist in three categories at the Arabian Cargo Awards 2024. The airline is competing for awards in Best Cargo Airline – Africa, Fastest-Growing International Airline, and Best Cargo Airline – International, highlighting its significant achievements and growth in the global air cargo industry.