Fragmented Rules and High Taxes Hampering African Aviation Growth, Says Kenya Airways CEO
Africa's aviation sector is being held back by fragmented regulations, high taxation and restrictive cross-border policies, according to Acting Group Managing Director and CEO of Kenya Airways, Capt. George Kamal. Speaking at the Kenya Airways 2026 Aviation Media Lab Workshop in Mombasa, Capt. Kamal warned that the absence of harmonised aviation rules, partially closed airspaces and restrictive bilateral air service agreements continue to suppress intra-African travel and limit airline expansion. He called for stronger policy alignment under the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) framework, noting that Africa's passenger traffic could double by 2040 and its aircraft fleet grow to around 1,700 - but only if the right policy environment is established. The scale of the challenge is reflected in industry data: African carriers currently hold just 36.3% of intercontinental capacity serving the continent, compared with 63.7% controlled by non-African airlines.
Capt. Kamal highlighted excessive ticket taxes as a key cost driver, warning that intra-African routes are in some cases more expensive than long-haul international flights, with fuel alone accounting for up to 40% of operating costs - a figure that can rise to between 50% and 60% under additional taxation pressures. He pointed to visa liberalisation between South Africa and Kenya as a tangible example of how policy reform directly stimulates demand, with Kenya Airways expanding to four to five daily flights following the easing of restrictions. Kenya Airways Board Chairman Kiprono Kittony reinforced the call, urging African governments to treat aviation as a strategic infrastructure pillar rather than a standalone commercial sector, while the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority echoed the need for deeper regional cooperation to unlock aviation's broader role as a catalyst for trade, tourism and economic integration.
Source: The BFT Online
