The Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) is an initiative that aims to liberalise the African aviation industry, transforming it into a single market by deregulating air services and opening regional air markets to transnational competition. The undertaking is expected to support the advancement of the continent’s socio-economic development and to increase Intra-African Air Connectivity.

Launched in 2018 at the Ordinary Summit of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government, the SAATM is a flagship project of the African Union’s Agenda 2063. It follows the 1999 Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) that has been signed by 44 member countries.

Under the SAATM, any current or future air service agreement signed between any of the 37 member States, must be YD compliant and must meet the following requirements:

• Free exercise of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th freedom traffic to Eligible Airlines
• Liberalised air tariffs
• Unrestricted frequency and capacity
• Full liberalisation of cargo services
• Recognition of the powers and function of the Executing Agency – African Civil Aviation Commission
• Adherence to the uniform rules for fair competition, consumer protection and dispute settlement

As the Executing Agency, we, at the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), are charged with the responsibility of managing air transport liberalisation across Africa. This responsibility includes the SAATM, which ensures that aviation assumes its rightful role and that it contributes to intra-African connection. The SAATM underscores Africa’s social, economic, and political integration across the region while boosting intra-African trade and tourism as per the AU-Agenda 2063.