AFRAA 56th AGA: IATA’s Director General Calls for African Airlines Innovation and Support

The 56th African Airlines Association (AFRAA) Annual General Assembly (AGA) and Summit commenced on November 17, 2024, in Cairo, Egypt.

Hosted by EGYPTAIR and supported by the Government of Egypt, under the theme, “Transform and Develop the Airline Industry in Africa“— the event drew delegates from the aviation industry worldwide.

IATA’s Address by Willie Walsh

In his speech at the AFRAA 56th AGA, Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA, highlighted the immense potential of Africa’s aviation industry.

He pointed out that while Africa is home to 18% of the global population, it only accounts for 3% of the world’s GDP and a mere 2% of global air transport.

“Africa has enormous potential,” Walsh remarked, emphasising that “as Africa’s airline leaders, I know that you are ready to take advantage of this potential to grow your airlines and connect the continent.”

Walsh acknowledged the challenges faced by African airlines, including high costs, taxes, and the need for investment in airport infrastructure:

“I don’t come here with any magic solutions,” he said, “but as your global association, I want to assure you that we work closely with AFRAA, we are focused on your needs, and we are looking at how we can support our members’ success even more effectively.”

Safety in Aviation Africa

Walsh emphasised the importance of safety, noting that while Africa has made significant improvements, there is still work to be done.

He urged airlines to adopt the IATA Safety Leadership Charter and contribute to the Global Aviation Data Management (GADM) initiative to improve safety performance:

“Safety thrives with global standards,” he stated, highlighting that “Africa has made significant improvements in safety, but there is still work to do.”

“Part of that work is safety culture. The IATA Safety Leadership Charter provides eight principles aimed to standardise a global approach for safety culture in each airline. Some 118 airline CEO’s have signed, fourteen of these are in Africa. While that is a significant number, with 37 IATA members and 65 IOSA airlines in the continent, there is scope for more to join.”

Blocked Funds in Africa

Walsh addressed the issue of blocked funds, noting that $950 million of airline money is blocked in African countries: “The largest amounts are in the XAF and XOF zone where over $300 million is being withheld.”

He highlighted the importance of repatriating these funds to maintain connectivity and drive economic prosperity:

“You have every right to count on the repatriation of funds for tickets sold across your global networks,” Walsh asserted.

Sustainability

Walsh also discussed the challenge of sustainability, stressing the importance of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

He called for increased Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production in Africa and highlighted IATA’s efforts to support sustainability initiatives. 

“By 2050 we must be at net zero carbon emissions,” he emphasised, adding that “Africa has the people and natural resources to develop a world-leading SAF sector.”