IATA partners AU Commission to improve African aviation

Harare– The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the African Union Commission (AU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand strategic cooperation to foster economic and social development on the continent with the benefits of safe, efficient and sustainable air transport.IATA represents some 260 airlines accounting for 83 percent of global air traffic. The industry already supports 6,8 million jobs and generates $72,5 billion of economic activity on the continent.



IATA director general and chief executive officer Tony Tyler and AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, Dr Elham Ibrahim signed the MoU, which paves the way for further development in African aviation.

The MoU focuses on exchange of information, expertise and capabilities in a number of areas including enhancing security through intelligence-driven, risk-based measures, enhancing safety, reducing accident rates in line with global levels of performance and promoting connectivity.

Other areas include facilitating collaborative decision making in air traffic management, improving the passenger experience through the deployment of IATA’s Fast Travel Program and a suite of projects designed to give passengers more control over their journey through a range of self-service options.

Tyler said Africa was set to become one of the fastest-growing aviation regions with five percent annual growth forecast over the next twenty years. He said achieving that goal would not happen by coincidence, but “strong partnerships are key.”

“This MoU will help ensure that global standards and best practices form the backbone of Africa’s growth as well as position the continent’s 54 nations to promote economic and social development by unleashing the full power of aviation.

Commissioner Ibrahim said IATA was a strategic partner in the growth of African aviation and the partnership would commit the two organizations to even closer cooperation on the priorities for African aviation.

“In particular, we count on IATA to partner with us by providing the requisite technical support in the establishment of the

Single African Air Transport Market as part of our long-term vision in the context of the AU Agenda 2063.
“We are, indeed, dedicated to global best practice as a fundamental for sustained growth in aviation in Africa,” he said.

(culled from www.bh24.co.zw)