As the 2025 Aviation Africa Summit & Exhibition concluded in Kigali on Friday, a high-level Ministerial Round Table warned that Africa’s aviation sector will not take off unless African skies are opened, hence calling for action to drive up the industry. During a discussion themed “How countries can respond to make Africa’s aviation ambitions a reality,” the ministers indicated that continued protectionism, fragmented airspace, and lack of implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) are among the biggest barriers to the continent's aviation and economic growth. SAATM is an initiative that aims to liberalise the African aviation industry, transforming it into a single market. However, it lacks the required endorsement for it to be operational across the continent, as some countries have not yet signed it. According to the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), the initiative has got 38 signatories — out of 55 countries making up the continent. ALSO READ: How high taxes, fees stifle Africa’s aviation industry Open skies as the ‘low-hanging fruit’ being ignored Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure, Jimmy Gasore said the first and most obvious step to advancing Africa’s aviation industry is for the countries on the continent to open their skies to each other. “The first thing, which I believe is actually the low-hanging fruit for us Africans, is to open our skies, he said, referring to the need for implementing SAATM which has proven to offer benefits. Gasore warned that Africa is losing significant growth opportunities due to unfavourable regulatory and policy frameworks. Theresia Mbaika, Kenya’s Principal Secretary in the State Department for Aviation and Aerospace Development, said Africa’s aviation potential is being squandered due to slow policy alignment and persistent protectionism. ALSO READ: Kagame criticises expensive air travel in Africa While the continent has set bold ambitions through SAATM, the African Continent Free Trade Area and the Agenda 2063 to transform the aviation into a driver for integration and global competitiveness, Mbaika said there was a lack of action to operationalise them for aviation progress. “SAATM has come out as a very key enabler of connecting Africa, increasing on trade and copying from each other and doing the right thing. But then I think there's a gap between the talk and the implementation part of it. So, we must move from the talking; the boardroom meetings and do the thing that we really need to do,” she said. Addressing visa and tax barriers Gasore also highlighted that aviation cannot thrive without supportive reforms in visa policy and aviation taxation. He said that countries can’t talk about connectivity if they keep their borders closed. Instead, he stated that countries should emulate Rwanda’s effective policy to exempt visa requirements for all African nationals, which he said has boosted tourism and regional cooperation. Regarding taxation, he criticised the use of taxes, navigation fees and landing charges as tools of protectionism. “Some countries use taxes to weaken competitors instead of building stronger airlines. We must harmonise these costs across the continent if we want to compete globally,” he said, urging for a pan-African framework to manage fees and avoid price distortions. He held that travelling by air should not be a luxury, but an affordable means of transport for citizens. However, he said that until African countries open their skies, streamline their policies, and invest together, Africa will continue to fly below its potential.
