Aviation Experts Urge SADC to Liberalise Skies, Boost Collaboration for Economic Growth
Aviation experts at the recent Southern African Industrialisation Forum (SAIF) raised concerns about the challenges hampering the Southern African Development Community's (SADC) economic potential. Onerous aviation regulations, restrictive visa requirements, and a lack of cross-industry collaboration are stifling the region's growth.
Regulatory bottlenecks, fragmented rules, and disharmonised licensing create unnecessary complexity and costs for airlines. Visa restrictions for SADC nationals travelling within the region impede tourism, business, and labour movement. Limited collaboration between aviation, tourism, and other sectors hinders effective route development and a cohesive tourism offering.
Excessive taxes, airport charges, and fuel levies undermine SADC's regional competitiveness, deterring airlines and inflating costs. Experts emphasised the need for comprehensive policy reforms, including adopting the Single African Air Transport Market initiative, public-private partnerships for infrastructure development, and creating an enabling environment for airlines.
Panellists stressed the importance of a mindset shift, embracing aviation's interconnectedness with other economic sectors and recognising its role as the region's economic lifeblood. Collaborative problem-solving among governments, regulators, airlines, and private stakeholders is crucial for unlocking SADC's full potential through integrated, world-class aviation infrastructure.
Source: BizCommunity
