The African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) and the aviation community in Africa are set to jump-start liberalized air transport services under the Single African Air Transport (SAATM) concept with the launch of the historic SAATM Project Implementation Pilot (PIP) at the 23rd Anniversary of the Yamoussoukro Decision Day (YD-Day) celebration in Dakar, Senegal, on November 14, 2022.
The PIP, aimed at accelerating SAATM implementation, involves 15 African States that possess “requisite SAATM implementation enablers,” out of 35 States that have signed the SAATM, and include Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Togo and Zambia, as well as Senegal and Cameroun. About 13 African Ministers are expected to launch the PIP and ‘Club of Ready And Willing States’, led by the Minister of Air, Rail and Road Transport of Togo, HE Affoh Atcha Dédji, who is the Champion State of SAATM, and the Host State Minister of Air Transport and Airports
Infrastructure Development, HE Alioune Sarr, to open up the free flow of traffic among these 15 African States.
“This is a tremendous moment in the history of Africa’s air transport development. Interestingly too, these States have domestic airlines that will actively drive interconnectivity and integration. This readily opens a new vista of economic activities building remarkably Africa’s integration and cohesion. We are confident of a resounding success, and I invite other States to join and open up immediately,” says Adefunke Adeyemi, Secretary General, AFCAC.
The 35 States that have signed for SAATM already account for over 85% of intra African traffic and over 800 million of African population, and AFCAC is further utilizing newly appointed SAATM Ambassadors to drive advocacy and implementation of SAATM in States and regions. The high- level event will feature dignitaries from the African Union, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Air Transport Association (IATA), frican Airlines Association (AFRAA), Airports Council International (ACI), Regional Economic Communities (RECs), African Civil Aviation Authorities, Airlines, and other institutions and operators.