Angola

1) What have been your achievements in CAA and aviation in your country in 2022 ?

Women have taken the lead in a sector whose professionals are eminently male. It was an achievement to have been entrusted and challenged to lead the National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC) of Angola following the significant reform policies made to the Civil Aviation Sector and approved by the Angolan State in 2022.

Among the achievements, we had the privilege of issuing Certificate No. 001/FNLU. ANAC/2022, to the 4th of February International Airport. The delivery of this certificate represents a milestone for civil aviation in Angola, as it is the first certification of a world-class airport, thus complying with the ICAO recommendation, confirmed during the USOAP-CMA Audit, carried out to our system during the period from November 30 to December 12, 2022.

Another frank achievement was the opportunity to participate in the ANAC team. When the Operational Safety Supervision System by ICAO audited our efforts and impact, we obtained the best result, with an average of 62,03% effective implementation. The result is higher than the regional average of the 24 countries of the South and East Africa (ESAF) region, which is 57.1%. Angola’s civil aviation is above the African target of Abuja (60%) and close to the global average of 67.7%.

In recent years, Civil Aviation in Angola has experienced a period of reforms, conforming its regulatory framework to the best international practices recommended by the SARPs of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and in the specialization of the entities that provide services in the Sector.

The conformation of the regulatory framework has led to the redefinition of the organizational structures and operational models of the fundamental entities of the civil aviation sector, namely the National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC), the National Institute for Research and Prevention of Transport Accidents (INIPAT) and the National Air Navigation Company (ENNA-EP), to make them better fulfill their mission to promote air safety and the dynamization of air traffic.

Looking at the global strategy of the airport system, one of the strategic objectives aims to promote the growth of the Civil Aviation Sector, allowing Angola to become an essential hub in the Sub-Saharan Africa Region, anticipating the future development and challenges of SAATAM (Single African Air Transport Market) and for this it takes into account fundamental aspects such as:

• Liberalization of airspace and new strategic concept of TAAG: promoting the opening of the Angolan air transport market, with the introduction of new levels of freedom (Freedoms  of the Air), according to the principles of ICAO and observing the scope of the SAATM project (Single African Air Transport Market)), with the objective of the economic integration of the African Continent, thus improving the offer, and stimulating competitiveness for our flag company with the entry of new competitors, ensuring its relevance in the Angolan, regional and intercontinental markets and its economic and financial sustainability;

• Strategy for different segments of airports and airfields: In this segment, being the main gateway to Angola, Luanda will have an «Airport Hub/Gateway.» The other airports will be designated “Origin/Destination Airports.” In this context, three categories will be created, in which the Cabinda, Catumbela, Huambo, and Lubango Airports will operate with a focus on Traffic Generation in the Short Term; the Soyo, Malanje, and Namibe Airports will be airports to be explored in a model with Medium-Term Potential, given their vocation to support oil exploration or the tourist potential.

Other airports will follow an Innovative Public Service Model, implementing a management paradigm focused on optimizing operations costs but ensuring public service provision.

2) What are your challenges and how can AFCAC assist you?

ANAC will need support from all bodies in the sector, and AFCAC is an essential partner in sharing experiences of best governance, inspection, and safety practices in promoting the regulation and supervision of economic regulation activity, given the challenges resulting from the implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision and the Single Air Transport Market in Africa (SAATM).

ANAC expects AFCAC, as the YD Executive Agency and the promotion of SAATM, to develop training programs for States that are in the process of implementing SAATM, according to the specific needs of each State, including ourselves. Training empowers and levels the understanding that we must all have in this great project for Africa. The improvement of the communication strategy on YD SAATM is required so that the different stakeholders can feel part of this challenge of connecting Africa. It will allow aligning of the internal rules and regulations (of Angola) to the recommendations and needs for the implementation of SAATM and consequent adequacy and planning of the future growth of infrastructures,  improvement of operational safety, and civil aviation safety.

3) Your commitment to SAATM: how are you going to proceed with the implementation?

Angola understands that liberalization will bring benefits, such as new routes, more frequent flights, better connections, and lower prices, which will influence the increase in the number of passengers and create a direct and indirect positive effect on trade, tourism, business travel, job creation and improvement of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

It is with this vision that the government of Angola prepares a roadmap for the implementation of the initiative, whose beginning is the signing of the solemn declaration or commitment of accession during this year and which should culminate with the signing of the Memorandum of Implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision.

We understand that implementing the SAATM project depends on our desire and requires coordination and close cooperation with AFCAC, ICAO, African Nations, African Union, partners, and friends of the continent to develop and ensure beneficial and sustainable trade policies. We are aware of the obstacles that may arise, but the investment protocols, competition, and intellectual property are fundamental pillars for implementing the ambitious SAATM project.

There is an urgent need to create a database where States can share information on the implementation phases of the project, an effective, fast, secure, and permanent method of communication. That would facilitate access and reduce bureaucracy. It would be a rehearsal for the project intended to get implemented.

4) What can you say about SAATM PIP?

The African continent should be commended for its recent efforts. The decision for a Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) is the flagship project launched by the African community for Africans, a turning point towards self-determination and liberalization of the air transport market on the continent. PIP is expected to accelerate liberalization, improve connectivity, and integrate African air transport.

The implementation of Project SAATM (PIP)- Indispensable tool to assess the diagnosis of the situation of States in the performance and compliance with YD and SAATM, elaborating Corrective Action Plans that aim to comply with YD and SAATM, since air transport is essential for the economic and social development of a country and, due to the possibility of fast connections,  It facilitates the movement of people and goods, allows the flow of business agents and boosts commercial activities and tourism.