Open skies policy takes centre stage at AFRAA summit Mrs Bona Chikore (centre) and her husband Mr Simba Chikore (2nd from right) who is Air Zimbabwe chief operations officer chat with Mr Shawn Pike (2nd from left), the commercial sales manager of Omni Air International, a company that leases aircraft while two other delegates look on.— Picture by Leonard Ncube
Mrs Bona Chikore (centre) and her husband Mr Simba Chikore (2nd from right) who is Air Zimbabwe chief operations officer chat with Mr Shawn Pike (2nd from left), the commercial sales manager of Omni Air International, a company that leases aircraft while two other delegates look on.— Picture by Leonard Ncube

Mrs Bona Chikore (centre) and her husband Mr Simba Chikore (2nd from right) who is Air Zimbabwe chief operations officer chat with Mr Shawn Pike (2nd from left), the commercial sales manager of Omni Air International, a company that leases aircraft while two other delegates look on.— Picture by Leonard Ncube

Leonard Ncube in Victoria Falls
THE 48th Africa Airlines Association (AFRAA) Annual General Assembly officially opened here yesterday amid calls for African countries to seriously consider committing themselves to liberalising the airspace.

The liberalisation of the airspace or open sky for Africa is the offshoot of the Yamoussoukro Decision, which African states agreed on and ratified.

About 21 states will start implementing the policy in 2017.

Only 15 countries, including Zimbabwe, have implemented the policy.

Officially opening the conference, Transport and Infrastructural Development Deputy Minister Engineer Michael Madanha said African Governments are committed to a safe operating environment to airlines.

“African governments take seriously the responsibility to ensure a safe and profitable operating environment for our airlines. We are alive to the fact that aviation infrastructural development in the form of more runways, modern air traffic control systems, boarding gates and increased capacity or airports to handle passengers and cargo are major concerns for airlines,” he said.

Eng Madanha said Zimbabwe had made huge strides in trying to meet these expectations as shown by its programme of upgrading airport facilities.

“Issues of safety and security on the airlines call for greater support and cooperation. African governments have endorsed an AU backed plan aimed at addressing these concerns,” added Eng Madanha.

He said the summit comes on the backdrop of many challenges facing airlines.

“These include hits on passenger and cargo yields emanating partly from intense competition, thin route networks, inappropriate equipment, safety related concerns, negative impact of our industry and the environment, as well as the high cost of doing business,” said the Deputy Minister.

He challenged delegates to harness all their skills and business acumen to come up with innovative solutions that will not only ensure survival of airlines but also industry’s viability and sustainability.

Speaking at a press conference later on, AFRAA secretary general Dr Elija Chingosho said airlines were facing a myriad of challenges that need urgent attention by all stakeholders.

“AFRAA will continue to lobby governments for liberalisation of airspace. Zimbabwe is among the first 11 countries that expressed commitment to open skies and now they are 15 after others joined recently, more still need to join,” he said.

Dr Chingosho said the 15 constitute 75 percent of air traffic in Africa, and hoped other states would follow the path towards liberalisation of the airspace.

He said some of the challenges faced by airlines include blocked funds, which airlines are failing to repatriate from their countries of operations and safety.

Dr Chingosho said: “Because of lack of funds airlines are struggling. They should be allowed to get their money so they can operate and facilitate trade”.

Organisers said the 4th session of AFRAA summit was the biggest ever with about 557 delegates from different airlines in Africa, their partners from the suppliers and manufacturing sector present.

The summit runs under the theme: “Managing survival and market recovery of African airlines.”

Air Zimbabwe is the host of the three-day event which ends today.

The event also offers an opportunity for Zimbabwe to showcase its hospitality and the unique tourist attractions.

@ncubeleon

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